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CHARLES C. CHIASSON

University of Texas at Arlington

Alcaeus (born c. 630 BCE) is a lyric poet from LESBOS cited once by Herodotus (5.95) for having discarded his armor in a battle between ATHENS and MYTILENE. One recurrent topic in his surviving verses—the remnants of an Alexandrian edition in at least ten books—is the political turmoil that plagued Lesbos during the late seventh century, as rule by hereditary kingship gave way to a series of TYRANTS, and various aristocratic families (including Alcaeus’ own) jockeyed for power. Alcaeus vividly describes his hatred of PITTACUS, an erstwhile ally turned tyrant, and the tribulations that he himself suffered in political EXILE.

Herodotus mentions Alcaeus in the context of long‐standing conflict between Athens and Mytilene for control of SIGEIUM, a strategically important site at the entrance to the HELLESPONT. Herodotus notes that during a battle (traditionally dated to 607/6, though this passage may raise questions about the CHRONOLOGY) the poet fled and the Athenians seized his armor, which they dedicated in the temple of ATHENA at Sigeium. Herodotus adds that Alcaeus composed a poem about the incident and sent it to Mytilene to inform his friend MELANIPPUS of what had happened. STRABO (13.1.38/C600 = F428a Campbell) quotes a brief excerpt from the poem, cast as a HERALD’s announcement that the poet is safe, despite the loss of his weaponry. Page (1955, 152–61) suggests that Alcaeus’ poems were the main ultimate source of information about the Sigeian War for Herodotus and all subsequent ancient authors.

SEE ALSO: Peisistratidae; Poetry; Sources for Herodotus