The Value of Victory in Pindar's Odes : Gnomai, Cosmology and the Role of the Poet

This book investigates the cosmological context of Pindar's odes, and how it influences his presentation of praise. An overview of cosmological ideas based on gnomai is complemented by detailed literary analyses showing that these ideas are modified according to a victor's circumstances. The Value of Victory in Pindar's Odes (2007)......Page 1 Mnemosyne - Volume 285......Page 3 ISBN: 9789004158481......Page 5 --> CONTENTS......Page 8 PREFACE......Page 10 chapter one - INTRODUCTION......Page 12 chapter two - GNOMAI AS A SOURCE OF COSMOLOGICAL REFLECTION......Page 22 The nature of gnomai according to modern scholarship......Page 23 Education through gnomai......Page 26 Gnomai in rhetoric......Page 30 The value of gnomai in education and rhetoric......Page 32 Pindar and gnomai......Page 35 The “true point” of gnomai......Page 38 Definitions and assumptions......Page 40 Fate and fortune......Page 43 God......Page 48 Nature......Page 57 The human condition......Page 65 Man in society......Page 83 The household and family relationships......Page 88 Relationships outside the oikos......Page 92 chapter four - COSMOLOGY IN ACTION: AN ANALYSIS OF SELECTED ODES......Page 114 Olympian 12: An immigrant and his adopted city......Page 116 Isthmian 4: Creating charis for an ill-favoured victor......Page 122 An Olympic victor in the shadow of his family......Page 142 The poet’s balancing act: Tempering ambition with restraint......Page 149 chapter five - THE POET AS MEDIATOR OF COSMOLOGY......Page 172 Isthmian 4: The poet modifies a cosmological premise......Page 175 Olympian 13: The poet demonstrates cosmological principles......Page 178 Cosmology and the poet in short odes......Page 180 Olympian 9 and Nemean 3: The poet assumes different attitudes to a central cosmological tenet......Page 188 Summary remarks......Page 202 chapter six - CONCLUSION......Page 206 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 210 GENERAL INDEX......Page 220 INDEX OF GREEK WORDS......Page 226 INDEX OF PASSAGES CITED......Page 228 COPYRIGHT PAGE......Page 240 Gnomai As A Source Of Cosmological Reflection -- The Nature Of Gnomai According To Modern Scholarship -- Ancient Thinking On Gnomai -- The True Point Of Gnomai -- The Gnomic Expression Of Cosmology In Pindar -- Definitions And Assumptions -- The Elemental Forces : Fate, God, Nature And Man -- The Human Condition -- Man In Society -- Cosmology In Action : An Analysis Of Selected Odes -- Olympian 12 : An Immigrant And His Adopted City -- Isthmian 4 : Creating For An Ill-favoured Victor -- Olympian 13 : Praising An Ambitious Family -- The Poet As Mediator Of Cosmology -- Isthmian 4 : The Poet Modifies A Cosmological Premise -- Olympian 13 : The Poet Demonstrates Cosmological Principles -- Cosmology And The Poet In Short Odes -- Olympian 9 And Nemean 3 : The Poet Assumes Different Attitudes To A Central Cosmological Tenet. By Hanna Boeke. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [199]-208) And Indexes. "This book investigates the cosmological context of Pindar's victory odes, and how it influences his presentation of praise. The study first focuses on gnomai as a reflection of cosmology, using these sayings to establish the views the poems reveal on matters such as the divine, the human condition and man in society. This overview is complemented by detailed literary analyses demonstrating how cosmology functions in individual odes. They show that Pindar shapes the poet persona to emphasize different aspects of the traditional world view or represent varying viewpoints so that he can praise each victor according to his particular circumstances. By focusing on cosmology, the book highlights a neglected dimension of Pindar's odes and challenges some traditional views on this poet."--BOOK JACKET Investigates the cosmological context of Pindar's odes, and how it influences his presentation of praise. This work gives an overview of cosmological ideas based on gnomai which is complemented by detailed literary analyses