El mito de Tifón y su recepción en Píndaro

Abstract

A reflection on the Myth of Typhon throughout its various appearances in Greek literature, from the Illiad and Hesiod up to Nonnus provides an opportunity to see to what extent the connection is maintained with its original meaning, attested by parallels existing in literature of ancient Near East: that of a fundamental cosmogonic act, according to some, in the form of a battle between the god, creator of a definite world order, against the monster representing chaos. In Pindar (Pythian I) the memory of the victory of Zeus over the monster Typhon (during the eruption of the Sicilian volcano) is used to exalt —more than his success in the games— Hieron’s work as the founder of the new order, the City of Aetna, in a moment of splendour because of his political and strategycal hegemony.