Greek Lyric, Volume V: The New School of Poetry and Anonymous Songs and Hymns (Loeb Classical Library 144)

Precious snippets of ancient song. Towards the end of the fifth century BC, Aristophanes and the other writers of comedy used contemporary poets and musicians as targets for their jokes, making fun of their innovations in language and music.The dithyrambs of Melanippides, Cinesias, Phrynis, Timotheus, and Philoxenus are remarkable examples of this new style.The poets of the new school, active from the mid-fifth to the mid-fourth century, are presented in this final volume of David Campbell’s widely praised edition of Greek lyric poetry.The longest piece extant is a nome by Timotheus-the foremost of these poets-called The Persians; it is a florid account of the battle of Salamis, to be sung solo to cithara accompaniment. This volume also collects folk songs, drinking songs, and other anonymous pieces.The folk songs come from many parts of Greece and include children’s ditties, marching songs, love songs, and snatches of cult poetry.The drinking songs are derived mainly from Athenaeus’ c