Pindar was born in Thebes and is the best-preserved of the ancient Greek lyric poets. Although he composed various forms of choral poetry (dithyrambs, hymns, laments), of which only fragments survive, he particularly distinguished himself in epinician poetry, that is, victory odes commissioned in honor of winners in Panhellenic games. The four books of his epinician odes (Olympian, Pythian, Isthmian, and Nemean Odes) have been preserved in their entirety. Pindar dedicated such odes to prominent figures of his time, including Hieron of Syracuse, Theron of Acragas, and Diagoras of Rhodes. He typically praised the victor’s homeland, local mythical traditions, family lineage, and personal virtues. For Pindar, victory was the result of the winner’s innate excellence, combined with proper training and the favor of the gods. Pindar was admired since antiquity for his elevated and grand style, his bold use of language, and the profound seriousness with which he approached his poetic art.