Anacreonta and the image of Anacreon in ancient times

Abstract

The image we have of the greek poets is closely related to the stories attributed to them and to the interpretations that the ancients made of their poetry. In order to briefly line out the image of Anacreon, I present a poetic translation of the so-called Anacreontea, an anthology of poems in the manner of (or paying hommage to) Anacreon, introduced by a small selection of poems about the poet from Teos. Although they are more likely to be the product of legend than an accurate account of the poet’s life and personality, these poems are relevant as a means to glimpse at what might have been the image of Anacreon in ancient times.