The race with the mule-car was introduced at Olympia in 500 BC, and put down by proclamation in 444.[1] The present Ode was probably composed for a victory won by Psaumis with the mule-car in 448.[1] Such a car is implied by the term ἀπήνας, in line 3.[1]
Summary
The nymph of Camarina is asked to accept the worship of Psaumis, who has done her honour by his victories (1–6).[1] On his return from Olympia, he celebrates the holy grove of Pallas and the local lake, and the two rivers; and also, by swiftly building a forest of lofty houses, brings his people out of perplexity (9–14).[2]
Toil and cost are involved, while the mere chance of victory is in view, but success makes even fellow-citizens give a victor credit for wisdom (15, 16).[3]
May Zeus Soter of Olympia bless Camarina, and permit Psaumis to reach a hale old age, while he rejoices in victorious steeds. Let him be content with health, wealth, and renown (17–24).[3]
Some suppose that Olympian 4 and Olympian 5 both refer to the same victory, namely a victory with the mule-car, which was possibly won in 456, four years before the victory with the horse-chariot of 452, recorded in two MSS.[1] On this view, Olympian 4 was sung in the festal procession, and Olympian 5 at the banquet.[1] A scholium in the Ambrosian and five other MSS states that Olympian 5 was not in the original texts (ἐν τοῖς ἐδαφίοις), but was nevertheless assigned to Pindar in the annotations of the Alexandrian grammarian, Didymus.[1]
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