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ANACREON (Ἀνακρέων, ὁ)

JESSICA M. ROMNEY

MacEwan University

Anacreon of TEOS (c. 570–485 BCE) is one of the nine lyric poets of Greece. His extant POETRY focuses on the topics of love, beauty, youth vs. old age, and WINE and was performed in the small elite DRINKING occasions known as symposia. Later ages received him as a great lover of wine. His poems and reputation fostered a later tradition of poetry collectively known as “the Anacreontea.”

Herodotus introduces Anacreon near the end of the POLYCRATES cycle in an alternate account for OROETES’ actions. In this version, a MESSENGER from Oroetes arrived on SAMOS to see the tyrant, who “happened to be reclining in the men’s quarters” with Anacreon at the time; they were likely participating in a symposion. Polycrates paid the messenger no heed, thereby insulting the satrap (3.121).

Although Herodotus does not explain why Anacreon was in Samos at the time, the poet was likely there in some sort of capacity as a court poet for Polycrates. After Polycrates’ death, HIPPIAS and HIPPARCHUS, the sons of PEISISTRATUS, brought Anacreon to ATHENS, where again he composed poetry for the TYRANTS’ court (Kantzios 2004–2005). Following the expulsion of Hippias from Athens, Anacreon remained there, and a statue was set up on the ACROPOLIS after his death (Paus. 1.25.1).