Bacchylides

Ancient Greek poet

Bacchylides was a Greek lyric poet of the fifth century BCE, a contemporary and rival of Pindar.

He composed victory odes celebrating athletic triumphs at the great Panhellenic games, along with dithyrambs and other choral works.

His poetry survived only in fragments until papyrus discoveries in the late nineteenth century restored substantial portions of his work.

style

lyric

Song's text

eleganceRefined, graceful quality
clarityState of being understandable
narrativeAccount of events

meter · verse · strophe · antistrophe · lyre · simile · epithet · imagery · Simonides · papyrus

dithyramb

Dionysus

Greek deity of wine

chorusSingers performing together
danceRhythmic bodily movement
ritualCeremonial set of actions

performance · Theseus · narrative · circular · altar · strophe · antistrophe · dramatic · myth · Athenian

epinicia

victory

Defeating an opponent

odeLaudatory verse form
athletesSports competitors
chorusSingers performing together

praise · triumph · celebration · wreath · crown · glory · honor · games · Olympics · laurel

Categories

Ancient PoetsHomer, Sappho, Virgil, Ovid, Horace
Greek poetryHomer, Sappho, Iliad, Odyssey, hymns
Ancient Greek PoetsSappho, Simonides, Corinna
Ancient ThinkersAristotle, Plato, Socrates, Confucius, Thales
Dithyrambic Poets
Ancient Music WritersAristoxenus, Ptolemy

Opposites

poetic genre

BacchylidesHomer

Ancient Greek epic composer

epic poet · Virgil · Sophocles · Euripides · tragedian

literary fame and survival

BacchylidesHomer

Ancient Greek epic composer

Sappho · Sophocles · Plato · Aristotle

literary era

BacchylidesOvid

Ancient Roman poet

Family

Bacchic, Bacchus

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