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How did a chorus move while performing the three parts of a Pindaric ode?

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Hear a reading of ancient Greek poet Pindar's first Olympic ode, commissioned by Sicilian prince Hiero — Pindar Pindar's first Olympic ode, its context, and the significance of the victory ode, or epinicion.

The Pindaric ode follows a triadic structure consisting of three distinct parts—the strophe, antistrophe, and epode—which corresponded to specific movements of the chorus during performance:123

Strophe: The chorus moved from one side of the stage to the other (often described as moving from right to left).14
Antistrophe: The chorus reversed its movement, traveling from the opposite side back across the stage (left to right).14
Epode: The chorus paused midstage to deliver this concluding section while standing still.24

While this triadic structure is well-documented, it is important to note that the specific musical settings and precise visual choreography of Pindar’s original performances are lost to history. Consequently, modern scholars cannot definitively reconstruct the exact appearance or constitution of the choir, such as the number of participants or the specific nature of their dance movements.5