Ancient Greek lyric poet Anakreont: biography, creativity

Lyrics of Anacreon, despite the fact that the poet lived BC, is still preserved and even popular. Not to mention the fact that the ancient Greek writer influenced the development of the world literary process. About biography and creativity of this amazing person, we'll talk in the article.

Anacreonte: 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 coast of Ionia. Various sources refer to the different names of his father: Eumel, Aristocritus, Scythian, Parthenius ... No information has been preserved about Anacreon'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 to 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 military operations, but he did not show much success in the art of war.

Meeting with Polycrates

Anacreon, whose biography became the purpose of our narrative, receives an invitation to the court of the tyrant Samos Polycrates. He was the son of a wealthy Samos aristocrat, who received power by cunningly destroying noble landowners. Anacreon became a mentor to Polycrates and lived at his court until 522 BC. E.

According to Herodotus, the tyrant trusted Anakreont and listened to his advice. Apparently, in response to this arrangement, the poet composed many laudatory odes to his ruler. The life of Anacreon at the court ended after the death of Polycrates.

Athens

Athens became the next city where Anacreon lived. The biography of the poet tells us that now he was invited to the court of another tyrant - Hipparchus. This ruler inherited the literary predilections of his father, who highly valued the work of Anacreon. That is why the tyrant sends to the writer a whole embassy, consisting of fifty gaols.

Anacreon arrives in Athens and gets acquainted with many outstanding poets who gathered at the court of Hipparchus. Among them was the famous Simonides.

In Athens, the poet has a huge success and is popular with the public. So, Anacreon was installed a statue on the Acropolis, next to the pedestal of his friend and fellow pen of Xanthippe. Among the coins of the coinage of that period come those that depicted Anacreon (sitting or standing with a lyre in his hands).

In the Sabinsky mountains of Italy in 1835 was found an ancient statue, which is now stored in the gallery of Borghese. It is believed that this sculptural image of Anacreon.

Death of poet

The exact place and time when Anacreon rested are unknown. The biography of the writer almost breaks off after the murder of Hipparchus and the collapse of the literary group that gathered around him. Most likely, Anacreon returned to his hometown Theos, where he died and was buried, according to the testimony of Simonides. According to other sources, the poet visited the court of the Thessalian king Ehekratid before returning to his homeland, accompanying Simonides on this journey.

Anacreon is also mentioned among the Greek centenarians. According to the testimony of Lucian, the scholar and chronicler, the poet died at 85 years old.

There is an anecdotal version of Anacreon's death, described by Pliny the Elder. According to him, the poet died, choked with a grape seed. However, among historians this version is not seriously considered.

Creation

Much more is known about the poet's work, as many works preserved by Anacreon have been 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 lyrical works, the fourth - from iambic, and the last - from elegiac. Unfortunately, only small fragments mentioned in the books of the later authors reached us.

Among the genres used by Aristotle in writing his works were:

• Hymns;
• Parfenia (choral songs performed by girls);
• Love songs;
• Poems-complaints about rapidly coming old age and fleeting youth;
• Ode, in particular to the kings who patronized him.

Themes and motives

Ancient Greek poet in his poems adhere to secular, slightly mocking tone. The concept of creativity of Anacreon is expressed in the simplicity of perception of the world, an ironic attitude towards oneself and others. He was not interested in deep feelings and passion. The main motive of all poetry is a consciously cultivated, measured enjoyment of earthly goods: wine, love, free-thinking.

Influence on World Literature

Anecreon had a great influence on the world culture. Poetry poet gave birth to a whole galaxy of followers and imitators, especially in the late Antiquity and the Renaissance and Enlightenment.

So, back in ancient times was created a collection of Anacreotea, where all the works are written in imitation of Anacreon. This manuscript was preserved and was translated from Latin, and then published in 1554. The time of creation of the collection dates from the Alexandrian epoch. It is to this work that Anacreon owes his literary fame to the modern world.

The popularity of the poet in the 17-18 centuries. Among European writers is due precisely to such pseudo-anacreontic works. In the Russian literature, the followers of Anacreonte include GR Derzhavin, KN Batyushkov, MV Lomonosov, AS Pushkin.

For what Anakreonta venerated wise

The characterization of Anacreon without those judgments about him that were among the contemporaries of the poet would be incomplete. Thus, the Greeks respected Anacreon not only for the elegance of the syllable, but also for the wisdom that he displayed in moderation. Despite the praise of wine drinking and love joys, the poet himself always observed a measure of both. Thanks to this, he managed to keep a clear living mind, the ability to gaily look at the surrounding reality, without going into strong and deep feelings. That is why in his poems there is no special depth and richness of thought, for Anacreon life is an easy, fleeting and frivolous action full of fun and joy. Hence the ease and simplicity of the language of his poetry.

The later Greeks represented Anacreon as a merry old man, whom the years do not in the least interfere with enjoying life. In Athens, where the poet lived for a long time, he was placed a statue in the form of a singing, warmed-up elderly wine.

Anacreontic poetry

This literary term denotes a kind of lyric poetry that sings all that Anacreon loved so much. Namely: fun, pleasure of life, joy of life, feast, love. All imitations of the ancient Greek writer is usually called anacreontic poetry.

However, due to the fact that the originals of the poems of Anacreon have come down to us in fragmentary form, the Anacreotea collection already mentioned by us has had the greatest impact on the followers of the great Greek.

Ancient Greek poet, thus, appears before us as a cheerful, constantly rejoicing life of the elder. This is what his contemporaries and descendants liked to see and love. However, despite such a frivolous attitude to the surrounding reality in poetic works, in life, Anacreon, judging by the testimony of contemporaries, was distinguished by an extraordinary mind and serious thoughtful attitude to being.