ERACLE, CICNO E AGESIDAMO DI LOCRI (PIND. OL. 10, 15/17): LA ‘VITTORIA SOFFERTA’ DI UN ATLETA OLIMPIONICO

According to ancient scholia, the myth evocated in Pind. Ol. 10, 15/17 should be interpreted as a reference to the athletic performance of the boxer Hagesidamus of Locri, the athlete praised in the ode itself: like Heracles against Cycnos, so also Hagesidamus run the risk of been defeated during the match, but, eventually, he won the competition thanks to the advises of his trainer Ila. This interpretation is usually dismissed by modern scholars. The aim of this article is to support the view of scholia vetera by means of comparison with the performances of other ancient fighters, like Crius of Aegina (Simon. fr. 507 Page), Mys of Tarentum (Diogen. Paroem. Gr. 1, 72 [ii pp. 11, 21 - 12, 6 Leutsch - Schneid.]), Glaucus of Carystos (Paus. 6, 10) and Arrichion of Phigalia (Philostr. Gymn. 21-22): if so, the allusion to the difficulties encountered by Hagesidamus could be used by Pindar in order to emphasize the athletic πόνος of the laudandus, his physical endurance during the match, and the special value of his Olympic crown.