Alcaeus

Ἀλκαῖος ὁ Μυτιληναῖος

Alkaios ho Mutilēnaios [Alcaeus of Mytilene]

Country

Lesbos

Languages

Archaic Greek

Dates

c. 625 BCE - 580 BCE

ancient worldgraeco-roman

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Alcaeus of Mytilene was a lyric poet from the Greek island of Lesbos who is credited with inventing the Alcaic stanza. He was included in the canonical list of nine lyric poets by the scholars of Hellenistic Alexandria. He was a contemporary of Sappho, with whom he may have exchanged poems. He was born into the aristocratic governing class of Mytilene, the main city of Lesbos, where he was involved in political disputes and feuds.