Editing Bacchylides (section)

===Ode 13===
Ode 13 of the Bacchylides is a Nemean ode performed to honor the athlete Pytheas of [[Aegina]] for winning the pancration event of the [[Nemean games]].  Bacchylides begins his ode with the tale of [[Heracles]] fighting the [[Nemean lion]], employing the battle to explain why pancration tournaments are now held during the Nemean games.  The allusion to Heracles’ fight with the lion is also meant to incite why it is that Pytheas fights for the wreaths of the games: to obtain the undying glory that the heroes of old now possess for their deeds.  Bacchylides then sings the praises of Pytheas' home, the island Aegina, and how "her fame excites a dancer’s praise."<ref name="ReferenceA">Bacchylides. "Ode 13". Translated by Robert Fagles. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1961</ref> Bacchylides continues this dancer allusion in praise of Aegina, and ends it by listing some famous men who were born on the island, namely [[Peleus]] and [[Telamon]].   Bacchylides then tells of the greatness of these men’s sons, [[Achilles]] and [[Ajax the Great|Ajax]], alluding to a second myth, the tale of Ajax repelling [[Hector]] on the beaches of Troy, keeping the Trojans from burning the Greek ships.  Bacchylides relates how Achilles’ inaction spurred the Trojans to false hope, and how their swollen pride led them to be destroyed at the hands of the men they thought they had vanquished. The ode plays upon the fact that those who are listening to Bacchylides have also read the epics of Homer, and understand the whole story behind this scene that would speak poorly of Achilles if people did not know the role he played in the Trojan war. With this tale complete Bacchylides proclaims once again that the actions he has just told will be forever remembered thanks to the muses, leading once again into his praise of Pytheas and his trainer Menander, who shall be remembered for their great victories in the Pan-Hellenic games, even if an envious rival slights them.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>Bacchylides. "Ode 13". Translated by David R. Slavitt. Philadelphia: University of Penn Press, n.d.</ref>