A aède (in Greek old ἀοιδός / aoidós , of the verb ᾄδω / aidô , “to sing”) is, in ancient Greece, an artist who sings epopees while being accompanied by an musical instrument, the Phorminx. It is distinguished from the Rhapsode, later, in what it composes its own works. So it is the equivalent of a bards Celte.

Most famous of the aèdes is Homère. the Odyssey into present also two figures: more known, Démodocos, which sings at the court of Alcinoos, but also Phémios, aède of the court of Ithaque. These two characters inform us about the trade of aède: the bard sings before an assembly of aristocrats brought together in banquet. It draws among a broad collection of well-known topics, like the Trojan War. It chooses an episode itself, but the public often claims to him such or such favorite topic. Often, they begin their song with a proème , i.e. a song runs being used as prelude to the principal epopee. The Homeric Hymnes constitute a collection of such poems.

See too

Related articles

• bards, Rhapsode;

• Greek Poetry.