Skolion

Not to be confused with Scholion.
A female aulos-player entertains men at a symposium on this Attic red-figure bell-krater, c. 420 BC

A skolion (from Ancient Greek: σκόλιον) (pl. skolia), also scolion (pl. scolia), was a song sung by invited guests at banquets in ancient Greece. Often extolling the virtues of the gods or heroic men, skolia were improvised to suit the occasion and accompanied by a lyre, which was handed about from singer to singer as the time for each scolion came around.[1] "Capping" verses were exchanged, "by varying, punning, riddling, or cleverly modifying" the previous contribution.[2]

  1. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Poetry" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 21 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  2. ^ Christian Werner (2005-05-18). "review of Derek Collins". Master of the Game: Competition and Performance in Greek Poetry. Bryn Mawr Classical Review.