# Endnotes explained — Victory Odes

> Chapter companion for Victory Odes by Pindar.

## What happens

The endnotes provide explanatory references and clarifications for various passages in the main text, including historical allusions, mythological figures, and textual interpretations.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/victory_odes_se/chapters/endnotes
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