Lyric Poet (6th century BC)
He was born in Reggium of Southern Italy during the 6th century BC. He was of aristocratic descent; his father was also a poet who served in the courtyard of Polycrates of Samos. Ibycus was one of the nine great Lyric Poets of Ancient Greece. It is estimated that he wrote 7 poetic collections, of which only 40 lines survive from scattered fragments of his works. He is the creator of the encomium, a hymn of commemoration.
Ibycus’ most important poems are the erotic ones, in which love dominates as a theme. The theme of love is so great that in his poem Diary of an Unseen April Odysseus Elytis anecdotically characterizes Ibycus as an erotomaniac. Most of his poems are original and sentimental. They frequently express the fear of falling in love with someone or describe the beauty of youth. He seems to have been influenced by two lyric poets Stesichorus and Sappho as both Stesichorus and Ibycus wrote choral lyrics on mythological narratives.
Other elements found within Ibycus’ poetry are the vivid imagery and symbolism. In one of his poems quinces represent the erotic awakening, the “unwalked fairy garden” represents innocence while growing vines symbolize youth. Other poems of his are religiously themed. The dialect of his poems is Epic with Aeolic and Doric elements.
Ibycus created the sambuca, a musical stringed instrument thought to be a small triangular harp whose music accompanied the poet’s reciting while according to Suda Lexicon he also created the ibycinon, a similar musical instrument. He is the founder of the Ibycean Scheme, a grammatical innovation found in his poems.
Bibliography
- “Ibycus”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens: 1946: Print.
- ΙΒΥΚΟΣ 40. – Απόσπασμα 286 Page. Greek-language.gr. Web. August 26, 2016.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. ”Ibycus”. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Web. 26 August. 2016.