Endnotes explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Myth and Historical Parallelism

  Endnotes draw parallels between mythological figures (e.g., Tityos, Sisyphus, Ixion) and historical events or persons.

• Fate and Divine Justice

  Discussion of Pythagorean transmigration and the fate of souls after death, as well as Apollo's role in divine punishment.

• Aristocratic Virtue and Heroism

  References to athletic victories, heroic comparisons (e.g., Achilles), and the praise of victors.

Characters to notice

• Heracles

  Referenced in the context of an ancient hymn by Archilochus.

• Hiero

  Mentioned as the father of Deinomenes, ruler of Etna.

• Arkesilas

  King Arkesilas of Kyrene, recipient of a peace-offering ode.

• Demophilus

  Exiled Kyrenian noble living in Thebes, for whom Pindar wrote the ode.

• Pindar

  The poet who wrote the odes and interceded for Demophilus.

• Apollo

  Referenced in Paean VI regarding the slaying of a figure for temple-desecration.

• Achilles

  Mentioned as a comparison for the victor Kleandros.

• Kleandros

  The victor whose uncle is referenced in the notes.

Key passages

• “You are not to be cowed by any numerical superiority of your foes, since you do not come from states in which such a lesson is learnt. You come from those in which the masses do not lord it over the select few, but where the minority rule the majority⁠—a supremacy which they acquired by nothing save fighting superiority.”

  Do not fear a larger enemy, because you come from states where the few rule the many through military strength, not from states where the majority dominates.

  Quoted from Thucydides, IV, 126, attributed to Brasidas.

• “Hail, O king Heracles, O victory-glorious! Hail thou and lolaus, spear-victorious!”

  Greetings to Heracles, glorious in victory, and to Iolaus, victorious with the spear.

  Opening lines of an ancient hymn to Heracles by Archilochus.