DOI article:
Allen, Frederic D.: On Greek versification in inscriptions
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8561#0058
44
on greek versification in inscriptions.
Of non-dactylic metres the least rare is the iambic trimeter.
Twenty epigrams are composed in it, as follows :1
Their brevity is noteworthy: thirteen of the twenty are monostichs,
and only three (all late) exceed two verses. — The verse, from its
nature and associations, had less dignity : it would do for a short
inscription of a lighter character, a gift-epigram or an artist's signa-
ture, but was seldom chosen for graver monumental uses. A long
epitaph in iambic trimeter (like 246 and 258) was not possible before
the Macedonian epoch. Perhaps the oldest trimeter inscriptions are
the epitaph of Amorgos lvi, and the Spartan inscription c, both bu-
strophedon. The oldest Attic inscription of this form is the epitaph
of Mvptvrj, 11 : here the metre was chosen with regard to the form of
the name, as also in 246 ('Ao-kA^ttio'Sotos), and 751 (Kp^o-iAas).
This repugnance to the trimeter for epitaphs led in three cases to
the adoption of a distich of mixed form :
Hexameter + iambic trimeter, 211(2 distichs) and cxvn (3 distichs);
Dactylo-trochaic heptameter + elegiac pentameter, 187 (2 distichs).
The object in each of these was the introduction of a proper name
containing _ w — ; KXetrocfiSiv (where, however, ~K\uTo<f>ooiv was
possible; see p. 101), Aa/xdrt/xos, E£0u'Sap.os. All are of the Mace-
donian period.
More extraordinary combinations are the following. — The maker
of 48 sandwiched a single iambic dimeter hypercatalectic among his
five hexameters, simpiy to bring in the name 'IwiroaTpdrrj. — The
epitaph 79 consists of two hexameters and two trochaic tetrameters,
without visible reason. — In cxxvn, an Orphic gold tablet of Sybaris,
we have three hexameters + two doggerel verses containing iambic
reminiscences, + 1 hexameter. — In cxuv, an ancient Thessalian
1 Of Cent. VI-V: 11, LVI. — 746.— 1098a RM (part), 751 (part), 762, 1099,
cxxxv.— 1097, c> n3°> cxxxiv. Of Cent. IV-II: 93, 210, 246, 258. — 783, cxi.
— xxxvi (part). Cypriote cxxxvn.
Centuries VI-V .
Centuries IV-II .
Uncertain (Cypriote)
Epitaphs. Dedications. Artists' inscr. Others.
• 2 1 5 4
.4 2 - 1
/
on greek versification in inscriptions.
Of non-dactylic metres the least rare is the iambic trimeter.
Twenty epigrams are composed in it, as follows :1
Their brevity is noteworthy: thirteen of the twenty are monostichs,
and only three (all late) exceed two verses. — The verse, from its
nature and associations, had less dignity : it would do for a short
inscription of a lighter character, a gift-epigram or an artist's signa-
ture, but was seldom chosen for graver monumental uses. A long
epitaph in iambic trimeter (like 246 and 258) was not possible before
the Macedonian epoch. Perhaps the oldest trimeter inscriptions are
the epitaph of Amorgos lvi, and the Spartan inscription c, both bu-
strophedon. The oldest Attic inscription of this form is the epitaph
of Mvptvrj, 11 : here the metre was chosen with regard to the form of
the name, as also in 246 ('Ao-kA^ttio'Sotos), and 751 (Kp^o-iAas).
This repugnance to the trimeter for epitaphs led in three cases to
the adoption of a distich of mixed form :
Hexameter + iambic trimeter, 211(2 distichs) and cxvn (3 distichs);
Dactylo-trochaic heptameter + elegiac pentameter, 187 (2 distichs).
The object in each of these was the introduction of a proper name
containing _ w — ; KXetrocfiSiv (where, however, ~K\uTo<f>ooiv was
possible; see p. 101), Aa/xdrt/xos, E£0u'Sap.os. All are of the Mace-
donian period.
More extraordinary combinations are the following. — The maker
of 48 sandwiched a single iambic dimeter hypercatalectic among his
five hexameters, simpiy to bring in the name 'IwiroaTpdrrj. — The
epitaph 79 consists of two hexameters and two trochaic tetrameters,
without visible reason. — In cxxvn, an Orphic gold tablet of Sybaris,
we have three hexameters + two doggerel verses containing iambic
reminiscences, + 1 hexameter. — In cxuv, an ancient Thessalian
1 Of Cent. VI-V: 11, LVI. — 746.— 1098a RM (part), 751 (part), 762, 1099,
cxxxv.— 1097, c> n3°> cxxxiv. Of Cent. IV-II: 93, 210, 246, 258. — 783, cxi.
— xxxvi (part). Cypriote cxxxvn.
Centuries VI-V .
Centuries IV-II .
Uncertain (Cypriote)
Epitaphs. Dedications. Artists' inscr. Others.
• 2 1 5 4
.4 2 - 1
/