Pindar was born in Boetia, central Greece, and is known as the greatest of the Greek choral lyricists.

His masterpieces are the 'epinicia', of which 44 are known, celebrating victories achieved in the Pythian, Olympic, and Isthmian games.

His poetry includes lyrics of unsurpassed splendour but the choral lyric itself had little future by his time because tragedy absorbed what was most vital in the tradition, and Pindar had no worthy successors.