Greek Lyrics by Richmond Lattimore

Author:Richmond Lattimore [Lattimore, Richmond]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

STESÍCHORUS

OF HÍMERA

The name Stesíchorus, “arranger of chorales,” suggests a family in which choral poetry was a traditional occupation. There were, apparently, several poets so named. An early but quite unreliable series of notices would make the first Stesíchorus the son of Hesiod. There is, however, good evidence for a Stesíchorus who lived from the later seventh to the middle sixth century. He was born, probably, at Mataúros in southern Italy, but made his home at Hímera in Sicily. He wrote long choral lyrics in complex structures and in them told stories from the heroic cycles. He probably had a very considerable influence not only on Pindar but also on Aeschylus (he wrote an Oresteía), and he is the first great name in West-Greek poetry. But Stesíchorus has shared the fate of Terpánder. His importance is unquestioned, but his work survives only in very short fragments which give little idea of what he could really do. We have a much better impression of the less influential Alcman through possession of one good-sized piece.

Stesíchorus is said to have lost his sight for slandering Helen. He apologized, by perpetuating the story that she never went to Troy at all, and regained his sight.

1 • Helen and Klytaimestra

So once, when Tyndareus

made sacrifices to all the gods, he forgot one only, the giver of blessings,

Aphrodite. And she in anger

with the daughters of Tyndareus made them twice married and three times married

and brides who deserted their husbands.

2 • Palinode to Helen

That story is not true.

You never sailed in the benched ships.

You never went to the city of Troy.

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