The fact that Pindar is not recognized as the greatest poet to have ever walked the dark-blue earth, has less to do with him being an extremely difficult poet, than with this simple truth, that his readers until a few years ago, were not yet born.
-
-
Even by Pindar's standard, these lines are difficult. Glory's effect is described as a breath that spreads upon men; manly deeds to conquistador-like exploration, which however has to stop at some point; the Pillars of Heracles, where the world of man, ends.pic.twitter.com/pHFKMMFRdS
Show this thread -
Fascinating chiastic structure here. Pindar recounts how the family were famous for their hippic victories & for their ability in war, before losing most of their men in battle, and, later, winning again at the Games. A B B A He organizes their story as a cyclical process.pic.twitter.com/BqeuBBw8kF
Show this thread -
Pindar expressed himself through an idiolect, a language of his own creation. Homer's Greek is an artificial, codified literary language, but Pindar not only invented his vocabulary, he would modify & bend syntax sometimes to near complete obscurity.
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.