The Extant Odes of Pindar

'The Extant Odes of Pindar' are a collection of choral songs celebrating victories in the ancient Greek Games. In his odes, Pindar's central image of the athlete transformed and transfigured by the power of the gods shines through. They are rich with mythological references and insights into the roots of athletics as part hero-worship and part nationalism. Pindar celebrates the athlete as a mythic warrior, but reminds us of the dangers of hubris and eventual downfall.