Anacreon | |
|---|---|
| Ἀνακρέων | |
 A bust of Anacreon in the Louvre | |
| Born | c. 573 BC |
| Died | c. 495 BC (aged c. 78) |
| Occupation | Lyric poet |
| Known for | Drinking songs, erotic poems, being one of the Nine Lyric Poets |
| Parent(s) | Possible names: Eumelus, Aristocritus, Parthenius, Scythinus |
Anacreon (/əˈnækriən/; Greek: Ἀνακρέων ὁ Τήϊος; c. 573 – c. 495 BC)[1] was a Greek lyric poet, notable for his drinking songs and erotic poems. Later Greeks included him in the canonical list of Nine Lyric Poets. Anacreon wrote all of his poetry in the ancient Ionic dialect. Like all early lyric poetry, it was composed to be sung or recited to the accompaniment of music, usually the lyre. Anacreon's poetry touched on universal themes of love, infatuation, disappointment, revelry, parties, festivals, and the observations of everyday people and life.
- ^ Bernsdorff 2020, p. 3.