Greek Lyric Poetry Introduction What is Lyric Poetry

Greek Lyric Poetry Introduction

What is Lyric Poetry? • Greek Lyric Poetry refers to poetry sung to a stringed instrument (usually a lyre but also flutes and other stringed instruments) • Lyric in this way differs from other styles of poetry like elegiac which are recited aloud • Lyric poetry contains several different forms including dithyrambs, (prayers to Dionysus) paeans (sung to Apollo) funeral dirges, wedding songs, encomia, (songs of praise) and epinicia (victory odes)

Lyric Age • The so called “golden age” of Greek lyric poetry spans from 650 to about 450 BC, this is the first period from which the names of individual lyric poets survive • It appears that a long period of anonymous lyric poetry preceded this “golden age” • There are nine chief lyric poets as established by the Alexandrians and first recorded in 100 BC • Alcman, Alcaeus, Anacreon, Bacchylides, Ibycus, Pindar, Sappho, Simonides, Stesichorus • We shall concern ourselves with Anacreon, Sappho, and Archilochus

Archilochus (680 -640 BC) • Lyric poet from Paros, wrote iambics (meter used for jest and ridicule) and elegiacs (love poetry), mercenary soldier • Wrote many poems attacking Lycambes who was believed to have promised his daughter Neoboule to the poet and then changed his mind • The state of Archilochean manuscripts is not great, most of the fragments which have survived are quoted in the works of other writers

Archilochus fragment 71 (as listed by D. Campbell) • εἰ γὰρ ὣς ἐμοὶ γένοιτο χεῖρα Νεοβούλης θιγεῖν • If only it were possible for me to touch the hand of Neoboule. • This one line fragment indicates the longing of the poet for his absent lover • Few other lines in Archilochus’ poetry speak directly of Neoboule and never with such tenderness, Archilochus’ usual target is her father Lycambes,

Sappho (630 -570 BC) • Female poet born on island of Lesbos, one of the most renowned and revered poets of the ancient world • much of her poetry has been lost, term lesbian comes from her love poems to young women • her poetry includes wedding songs, hymns to gods, and even some personal material

Anacreon (570 -488 B. C. ) • Born in Teos in Ionia, wrote poetry that was mostly monodic to be sung solo as opposed to choral which is sung by a chorus, • his poetry covers a wide range of topics including love, disappointment, parties, and everyday life • Served under a variety of powerful patrons including Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos and Hipparchus one of two tyrants at Athens