The lyrics of Anacreont, despite the fact that the poet lived before our era, is still preserved and even enjoys popularity. Not to mention the fact that the ancient Greek writer influenced the development of the world literary process. We will talk about the biography and work of this amazing person in the article.
Anacreont: biography
Little is known about the life of the great poet. Anacreon (Anacreon) was born around 570 BC. e. in the city of Teos, located on the shore of Ionia. Various sources call the different names of his father: Eumelus, Aristocritus, Scythian, Parthenius ... No information has been preserved about Anacreont's mother.
In this city, the poet lived until about 545 BC. e. and even managed to become famous for his writings. But the Persians, led by Cyrus, reached by that time Theos. Before the city fell, Anacreon and other refugees moved to Thrace. Judging by the statements of the writer himself, he happened to take part in some hostilities, but did not show much success in military art.
Meeting with Polycrates
Anacreont, whose biography was the goal of our story, receives an invitation to the court of the tyrant Samos Polycrates. This was the son of a wealthy Samos aristocrat who gained power by cunningly destroying noble landowners. Anacreont became the mentor of Polycrates and lived at his court until 522 BC. e.
According to the testimony of Herodotus, the tyrant trusted Anacreont and listened to his advice. Apparently, in response to this arrangement, the poet composed many laudatory odes to his ruler. Anacreont’s life at court ended after the death of Polycrates.
Athens
Athens became the next city where Anacreont lived. The poet’s biography tells that now he was invited to the court of another tyrant - Hipparchus. This ruler inherited the literary predilections of his father, who highly appreciated the work of Anacreont. That is why the tyrant sends the writer an entire embassy, consisting of fifty oar galleys.
Anacreont arrives in Athens and here he gets acquainted with many prominent poets gathered at the court of Hipparchus. Among them was then the famous Simonides.
In Athens, the poet is a huge success and is popular with the public. So, Anacreont was erected a statue on the Acropolis, next to the pedestal of his friend and brother in the pen of Xanthippus. Among the coins of the minting of that period, there are those on which Anacreont was depicted (sitting or standing with a lyre in his hands).
In the Sabine Mountains of Italy in 1835, an antique statue was found, which is now kept in the Borghese Gallery. It is believed that this is a sculptural image of Anacreont.
Death of poet
The exact place and time when Anacreont rested is unknown. The biography of the writer almost ends after the assassination of Hipparchus and the collapse of the literary group that gathered around him. Most likely, Anacreon returned to his native city of Theos, where he died and was buried, according to the testimony of Simonides. According to other sources, the poet, before returning to his homeland, visited the courtyard of the Thessalian king Ehekratid, accompanying Simonides on this journey.
Anacreon is also mentioned among Greek centenarians. According to the testimony of Lucian, a scientist and chronicler, the poet died at 85.
There is an anecdotal version of the death of Anacreont described by Pliny the Elder. According to him, the poet died choking on a grape seed. However, among historians, this version is not seriously considered.
Creation
Much more is known about the poet’s work, since many works by Anacreont were preserved. His poems were written in Ionian dialect and were intended for singing or recitation, accompanied by playing musical instruments.
The chronicles mention five books prepared for the Alexandria school. The first three consisted of lyric works, the fourth of iambic, and the last of elegiac. Unfortunately, only small fragments mentioned in books by later authors have reached us.
Among the genres used by Aristotle when writing his essays included:
- hymns;
- Parthenia (choral songs performed by girls);
- love songs;
- poems-complaints about fast-coming old age and fleeting youth;
- odes, in particular to the kings who patronized him.
Themes and motives
The ancient Greek poet in his poems adheres to a secular, slightly mocking tone. The concept of Anacreont's creativity is expressed in the simplicity of perception of the world, an ironic attitude to oneself and others. Deep feelings and passion were unusual for him. The main motive of all poetry is a deliberately cultivated measured enjoyment of earthly goods: wine, love, free-thinking.
Impact on world literature
Anacreont had a great impact on world culture. Poems of the poet gave rise to a galaxy of followers and imitators, especially in the period of late Antiquity and the Renaissance and Enlightenment.
So, even in ancient times, the collection Anacreotea was created, where all the works were written in imitation of Anacreont. This manuscript was preserved and was translated from Latin, and then published in 1554. The time of creation of the collection dates back to the Alexandrian era. It is to this composition that Anacreont owes its literary fame in the modern world.
The popularity of the poet in the 17-18 centuries. among European writers it is due precisely to such pseudo-anacreontic works. In Russian literature, the followers of Anacreont include G. R. Derzhavin, K. N. Batyushkov, M. V. Lomonosov, A. S. Pushkin.
Why Anacreont was considered wise
The characterization of Anacreont without those judgments about him that existed among the contemporaries of the poet would be incomplete. So, the Greeks respected Anacreont not only for the elegance of the syllable, but also for the wisdom that he showed in moderation. Despite the praise of wine drinking and amorous pleasures, the poet himself always observed the measure in both. Thanks to this, he managed to maintain a clear, lively mind, the ability to cheerfully look at the surrounding reality, without going into strong and deep feelings. Therefore, in his verses there is no special depth and richness of thought; for Anacreon, life is an easy fleeting and frivolous action, full of entertainment and joy. Hence the ease and simplicity of the language of his poetry.
Later Greeks represented Anacreont as a cheerful old man, whom the years did not interfere with enjoying life. In Athens, where the poet lived for a long time, they placed a statue in the form of a singing old man warmed with wine.
Anacreontic poetry
This literary term refers to the kind of lyrics that glorifies all that Anacreont loved so much. Namely: fun, enjoyment of life, joy of life, feast, love. All imitations of the ancient Greek writer are usually called anacreontic poetry.
However, due to the fact that the originals of Anacreont's poems came to us in fragmentary form, the greatest influence on the followers of the great Greek was exerted by the collection Anacreotea that we already mentioned.
The ancient Greek poet, therefore, appears before us as a cheerful, constantly enjoying life elder. This is exactly what his contemporaries and descendants saw and loved. However, despite such a frivolous attitude to the reality surrounding him in poetry, in life, Anacreont, judging by the testimonies of his contemporaries, was distinguished by an extraordinary mind and a serious thoughtful attitude to being.