Théocrite (in Greek old Θεόκριτος / Theokritos ), born towards 315, Poet bucolic.

Biography

The biographical information that we have on Théocrite is mean. From its own consent ( Idylle 28), it was born with Syracuse, in Sicily. However, a tradition, preserved by the Souda , made of him a native of Cos, which place it under the patronage of Philétas, tutor of Ptolémée II Philadelphe and poet very respected by the Old ones. Its friendship with the doctor Nicias, living in the island, as its thorough knowledge of the myths of the place also plead in the favor of this tradition.

He attends the court of Alexandria, as the Idylle 17 testifies some, song of praise in Ptolémée II. There, it binds with the poet Aratos, to whom it dedicates his sixth Idylle . The Idylle 16 watch which he works thereafter at the court of Hiéron II of Syracuse. We are unaware of the date of his death.

Work

Théocrite is regarded as the creator of Greek bucolic poetry. Its work reached us primarily by manuscripts. We preserved some:

• 22 made up epigram S in elegiac distiches, preserved in the Greek Anthologie ;

• a kind of Calligramme, the Syrinx , where the provision of the worms evokes the Panpipes (in Greek σῦριγξ / syrinx );
• a whole of poems described, since the Roman period, as “Idylle S” - in Greek εἰδύλλια / eidullia (of εἶδος / eidos , “the form”), i.e. “short forms”, made up for the majority in hexameters dactylic.

Quotations

The present is small, but that it has price! The gifts of the friendship are always invaluable|Théocrite| XXVIII^e Idylle, the stopper rod

• Gutta cavat lapidem not VI, sed sæpe cadendo , “water, drop by drop, digs the rock. ”
• “Where there is life, there is hope”

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