Pindar: Nemean and Isthmian Odes

One of the nine canonical Greek lyric poets, Pindar (c. 522-443 BCE) has enjoyed a brilliant reputation since antiquity. Notoriously challenging but widely respected, Pindar's poetry has been increasingly studied in modern times. In the late nineteenth century, C. A. M. Fennell (1843-1916), a classicist and Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, turned his attention to Pindar's Nemean and Isthmian odes. First published in 1883 but released in a new edition in 1899, this book features an introduction focusing on the practical aspects of the pentathlon, which sets a good grounding for the comprehension of the odes themselves. Touching on metrical structure, this edition then presents each ode in its original Greek, accompanied by an individual, detailed introduction and full commentary. This fascinating work will be of value to advanced students of Greek grappling with the intricacies of Pindar's complex poetry.