Lyric Poetry

    The lyric was originally a song sung to the accompaniment of a lyre. The two main types of lyric poetry in ancient Greece were he personal lyric and the choral lyric.

    The personal lyric began on the island of Lesbos with the poet Terpander. He introduced the seven string lyre and set the poems of Homer to music. Most of his poems were written in honor of a god, especially Apollo, and were sung by a single performer to the accompaniment of a lyre. This took place early in seventh century B.C.

    The choral lyric was first developed in the 7th century B.C. by poets who wrote in the Dorian dialect used in the region around Sparta. Spartan poets wrote choral lyrics for songs and dances in public religious celebrations. Later, they wrote choral lyrics for private occasions such as a victory at the Olympic games.

    The choral lyric reached its height in the middle of the 5th century B.C. in the works of Pindar.