Aoidos

Bard, also Aoide or Aoede ( from Ancient Greek ἀοιδός aoidós, singers ',' poet ',' Summoner ' to ἀείδειν aeidein, later adein ᾄδειν, sing '), was a name given to an artistic profession of pre-Homeric and Homeric times.

Aoiden were partly simple poet, in the ideal case, however idealized intellectuals. From the works of Homer, you can open up an image of the object, its position, self-concept and effect. In the Odyssey next nameless Aoiden occur two poets known by name: Demodocus and Phemius. The best Aoiden were employed in permanent positions at major rulers such as Agamemnon or Menelaus, but also with foreign rulers. So Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians, Demodocus, Odysseus employed to Phemius. Aoiden gave their art especially in feasts and banquets for the best. Less good representatives of the profession were traveling as an itinerant singer and were regarded as community improvement. With their songs and texts Aoiden were the keepers of cultural memory. In addition, their representations were community-building elements of great deeds. They were regarded as God- blessed and surrounded by the gods, especially Zeus, Apollo and the Muses. Especially blind singers were regarded as particularly gifted: it was thought that the gift of singing may be purchased at the price of eyesight. With the introduction of writing around 800 BC, the Aoiden lost increasingly important. In their place came the rhapsodists that were not productive themselves, but learned by heart recited. This transition was completed around 700 BC. Close to it is at this time, the group of Kitharöden, which presented lyrical solo singing. During the Dark Ages were passed down orally by the Aöden legends and myths. They served as Homer as the source of the Iliad and the Odyssey. The name of the bard comes from the muse of music and song, Aoide, from. According to this muse, a moon of Jupiter is named, see Aoede ( moon).

Friedrich Gottlieb Welcker, the work and the works of Aoiden reconstructed, Joachim Latacz explored the transformation process into the rhapsodies. The presentation technique of rhapsodists examined Milman Parry.