Corinna

Korinna ( Κόριννα ancient Greek Korinna, diminutive of κόρα Kora " girl " ) was an ancient Greek poet. It applies some critics as the most important by Sappho. Your life is controversial; the approaches vary between the early 5th and 3rd century BC

Life

Korinna came from Tanagra in Boeotia, where in ancient times, according to the report of Pausanias (IX 22, 3) was also a statue of her. Your life data are uncertain. Some assume that they lived in the 3rd century BC, as their few surviving poems are narrated in the language and orthography of that time. Others consider a much earlier life time for likely and consider them as contemporary of Pindar (early fifth century BC). They base their decisions on one of several authors (Pausanias, Plutarch, Aelian ) narrated anecdote that tells of a contest ( agon ) between Corinna and Pindar.

Seal

Corinna wrote numerous poems, of which only a few papyrus fragments and quotations in other writers ( Hephaestion, Apollonius Dyskolos ) have survived. There are substances of Greek, especially the local Boeotian legends processed therein ( Seven against Thebes, Oedipus, Heracles, Orion ). A 1906 found in Hermupolis papyrus contains verses in which one of arts contest between the two Boeotian mountains Cithaeron and Helicon is sung. The style of her poetry is referred to as simply, clearly and gracefully. Verses obtained show the peculiar for the Boeotian dialect vowel shifts ( eg η instead αι ).

Reception

It is believed that Korinna first as a regional poet gained only local celebrity and was only discovered again in the Hellenistic period by connoisseurs and lovers. From this period was also probably in ancient times under the title Mele ( μέλη - plural of μέλος, "Songs " ) known five -volume edition of their works. It was attributed as the tenth poet Alexandrian " canon of the nine classical Greek lyric poet ." The Roman poets she was considered the model learned and at the same time simple poetry ( Propertius II 3, 21). P. Ovidius Naso named in her honor, the central figure of his Amores, therefore, Corinna.

The still popular female first name " Corinna " goes back to the poet.

Editions and translations

• Denys Lionel Page: poetae Melici Graeci. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1975