Born near Thebes in Boeotia, he was noted for choral lyrics, called "Pindaric Odes". Pindar was about thirty at the time of Marathon. He wrote the Epinicians ("victory") Odes in honour of the victors at the four great panhellenic Games. These odes are accordingly grouped as Olympian, Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmian.

When Alexander razed Thebes to punish it for a revolt he left only the house of Pindar standing.

Amongst his lovers are recalled Thrasybulus and Theoxenos Rufinus.

The following fragment is from Pindar's Ode to his young lover Theoxenos, in whose arms Pindar is said to have died:

O soul, 'tis thine in season meet,
O pluck of love the blossom sweet,
When hearts are young:
But he who sees the blazing beams,
The light that from that forehead streams,
And is not stung;
Who is not storm-tossed with desire,
Lo! he, I ween, with frozen fire,
Of adamant or stubborn steel
Is forged in his cold heart that cannot feel."

Translation by J. Addington Symonds, The Greek Poets, vol. I, p. 286