Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Alcaeus of Mytilene

Alcaeus of Mytilene

9.9
A Greek poet from Lesbos known for short emotional poems
  • proper noun
  • Literature
translation icon : Alcaeus de Mitilene
  • Scholars often cite Alcaeus of Mytilene as the innovator of the Alcaic stanza.

Examples

  • The poetry of Alcaeus of Mytilene reflects the turbulent political life of ancient Lesbos.

  • Alcaeus of Mytilene was admired by later poets for his passionate verses and political themes.

  • Many scholars study the works of Alcaeus of Mytilene.

  • Did Alcaeus of Mytilene really invent the Alcaic verse?

  • Alcaeus of Mytilene was admired by later poets for his passionate verses and political themes.

  • Many scholars study the works of Alcaeus of Mytilene to understand ancient Greek poetry.

  • The innovative style of Alcaeus of Mytilene has influenced generations of poets.

Synonyms

Alcaeus
vsAlcaeus of Mytilene
  • Literature
9.9

An ancient Greek poet from Lesbos known for poems about politics and love

uses the fuller geographic form rather than the short name

Surface Forms

Alcaeus of Mytilene main

Morphology

Alcaeus + of + Mytilene

The phrase is a proper-name construction (personal name + 'of' + place) so the relation of origin/association ('Alcaeus from Mytilene') is compositionally transparent and cross-linguistically common. However, the specific information that Alcaeus is a Greek lyric poet (the encyclopedic referent) is not derivable from the constituents and requires world knowledge, so it is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Alcaeus of Mytilene was a Greek poet from the island of Lesbos who sang short public songs about love and politics. One popular image is of him using a steady four-line pattern at parties, and that pattern became known as 'Alcaic' verse, so his name today reminds people of that special style of poetry.