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Theognis

Theognis was a Greek elegiac poet, born about 540 B.C. to a rich family from Megara. He was driven from his home because of political feuds. The elegies of Theognis are mainly addressed to a youth named Cycnus and the topic of much of his poetry is boy-love. Theognis is the only archaic age poet whose work has come down to us pretty much complete, with over 600 elegiac couplets, although some of the work attributed to Theognis was probably written by Solon, Mimnermus, or Tyrtaeus. Theognis was the first poet to express in his poetry concern over the fate of his writing.

Source: The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume I Part 1.

Also see Theognis Profile

 

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This resource page is copyright © 2002-2003 N.S. Gill.

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