Editing Pythian Games (section)

===The Pythionikoi as a source of information===
Pindar worked on lyric poetry.<ref>Pindar. The Odes of Pindar including the Principal Fragments with an Introduction and an English Translation by Sir John Sandys, Litt.D., FBA. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1937</ref> The largest part of his surviving works is the Victory Odes (Epinikia), chorus songs to be sung in the homeland of the winner of the Games upon his return.

The Greek aristocracy of the first half of the 5th century BC, mostly the tyrants of [[Sicily]] and the conservative aristocracy of [[Aegina]], constituted the clientele of the poet. Thus, his Odes  of Victory reflect the aristocratic ideals which were losing ground so fast. 
The winner's laudation is reinforced by adding mythological details. However, a prerequisite for understanding and cherishing the poems is a well-educated audience. The poet uses his work not only to speak of the victory won by his client and his family, but also to accentuate the family's history and its connections all over Greece.

The total number of Victory Odes  is 45 celebrating the winners in the four most famous panhellenic athletic competitions: the [[Olympic Games|Olympic]], the [[Nemean Games|Nemean]], the Pythian and the [[Isthmian Games]]. The hymns celebrating victories in Pythian Games include 12 odes and offer information on the exact competition of each athlete.
Thus, we can constitute a list of the winners as follows:

In 498 B.C. Hippokles from Thessaly won at the children's diaulos (10th Pythionicus).

In 490 B.C. Midas from [[Akragas]] won at the musical contests as a flute player (12th Pythionicus).

In 486 B.C. Megakles from Athens won at the chariot racing (7th Pythionicus).

In 475 (?) and in 474(?) B.C. Hieron of Syracuse won the chariot racing (2nd Pythionicus).

In 474 Thrasydaeus from Thebes won at the children's stadium (11th Pythionicus) and Telesikrates from Cyrene won at the armed race (9th Pythionicus).

In 470 B.C. Hieron from Aetna won at the chariot racing (1st Pythinicus).

Finally, in 462/1 B.C. Arkesilaus from [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]] won at the chariot racing (4th and 5th Pythionikoi).