Corinna

Corinna of Tanagra by Frederic Leighton (c. 1893).

Corinna, or Korinna (Ancient Greek: Κόριννα Korinna; c. 500–401 BCE), was an ancient Greek poet from Tanagra in Boeotia.[1] She may have been a contemporary and rival of the Greek poet Pindar.[1] Corinna's poetry survives only in pieces and focuses on local Boeotian myths.[1]

Biography

Corinna was from Tanagra in Boeotia (central Greece).[a] The Suda, a tenth-century Byzantine encyclopedia, says she was the daughter of Acheloodorus and Procratia, and was nicknamed "Myia" (Μυῖα, "the fly").[2] She lived during the fifth century BC.[4] She was maybe a contemporary of Pindar, either having taught him, or having been a fellow student of Myrtis of Anthedon with him.[b][6] Corinna was said to have defeated Pindar in either one poetry competition or five poetry competitions.[c][6][8]

Poetry

Corinna wrote five books of poetry according to the Suda.[9] But her poetry survives in roughly forty pieces.[10][8][11] Corinna uses simple and clear language in her poetry.[12] She uses basic metrical schemes,[13] and focuses on mythical stories.[14][15][16] The tone of Corinna's poetry is ironic or humorous.[17]

Corinna was respected by the people of her hometown, Tanagra. Pausanias says that there was a monument to her in the streets of the town and a painting of her in the gymnasium.[18] Tatian writes in his Address to the Greeks that Silanion had sculpted her.[19][19] Corinna's poetry was popular in the Roman Empire.[13] She is mentioned by the first-century BC Greek poet Antipater of Thessalonica who lists her as one of nine "mortal muses".[20] Ovid gives his lover the pseudonym "Corinna" in his Amores.[21] She is also named by Propertius as a model for Cynthia, and by Statius along with Callimachus, Lycophron, and Sophron.[22] Alexander Polyhistor wrote comments about her work.[23]

Gallery

Notes

  1. The Suda says Corinna came from Tanagra or Thebes.[2] Pausanias only says that she came from Tanagra.[3]
  2. The Vita Pindari Metrica says Corinna taught Pindar.[5] The Suda says that she studied under Myrtis.[2]
  3. Pausanias says one competition.[3] The Suda and Aelian say five competitions.[2][7]

References

Citations

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Encyclopedia Britannica (1998). "Corinna". Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Suda κ 2087, "Corinna"
  3. 3.0 3.1 Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.22.3
  4. West 1990, p. 553.
  5. Vita Pindari Metrica, 9f.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Allen & Frel 1972, p. 26.
  7. Claudius Aelianus, Varia Historia 13.25
  8. 8.0 8.1 Plant 2004, p. 92.
  9. Campbell 1992, pp. 1–3.
  10. Page 1963, pp. 9–45.
  11. Balmer 1996, p. 33.
  12. Campbell 1967, p. 410.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Skinner 1983, p. 9.
  14. Larmour 2005, p. 46.
  15. Rayor 1993, pp. 220–221.
  16. Heath 2017, p. 103.
  17. Larmour 2005, p. 47.
  18. Snyder 1991, p. 42.
  19. 19.0 19.1 Vergados 2017, p. 244.
  20. Snyder 1991, p. 43.
  21. Heath 2013, p. 157.
  22. Thorsen 2020, p. 3.
  23. Vergados 2017, p. 245.

Sources

Further reading

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