The Hymn to Delos and Callimachus’ Blame of Thebes

Abstract

This article seeks to explain Callimachus’ blame of Thebes in the Hymn to Delos, arguing that Callimachus uses Apollo as a mouthpiece to voice the goals of his poetic project, signaling not only the influence of earlier Greek works—particularly Pindar’s Isthmian 1—but also his departure from these models. Moreover, Callimachus’ relationship with Pindar is more than simply literary, as shown through an intertextual reference that reveals a perceived familial tie, which helps explain Callimachus’ use of Pindar as a source. Callimachus’ blame of Thebes is a programmatic statement, demonstrating how Callimachus views his sources, his poetry, and himself.