Localizing Early Epic Material in Pindar’s Sicilian Odes: Epichoric Concerns and Panhellenic Fame

Abstract

Pindar’s Sicilian odes composed for Hieron and Chromius are embellished with various mythological narratives that are also encountered in early epic material. I suggest that Pindar not only localizes -to some extent- these originally Panhellenic mythological narratives in order to embed them in the foundation narratives that he constructs for the Sicilian victors but that the poet creates a complex interplay between epichoric and Panhellenic elements within the context of the Sicilian odes. In this way, Pindar creates for Hieron and his new-founded city a mythical past and legitimizes his right to rule before the eyes of local and Panhellenic audiences.