Bion of Smyrna
Greek · Poetry · Wedding Poem · Elegy; Poetry · Lyric
2 works · 308 aligned sentences
Epithalamium of Achilles and Deidameia
This work is a bucolic poem in hexameter focusing on the love between the Greek hero Achilles and Deidameia, the princess of Scyros. The poem opens with a dialogue between two shepherds, Lycidas and Myrson, where Lycidas requests a love song and Myrson obliges by singing about Achilles. The song narrates how the young Achilles, disguised as a girl to avoid the Trojan War, lived on Scyros and fell in love with Deidameia. It depicts Achilles secretly yearning for the princess and eventually making a passionate declaration of love while blending in with the women. However, the surviving text cuts off mid-speech during Achilles' courtship, leaving the poem as an unfinished fragment.
Poetry1 chunks · §1-3271 aligned sentencesRead →The Lament for Adonis
This lyric poem sings of the tragic death of the beautiful youth Adonis and the poignant lament of the love goddess Aphrodite, who loved him deeply. The narrative opens with a heart-wrenching scene where Aphrodite bids a final farewell, exchanging a last embrace and kiss with the dying Adonis, who has been mortally wounded by a wild boar's tusk. The goddess deeply mourns his passing, grieving that he is stolen away by Persephone to the underworld. As she weeps, her tears and Adonis's blood transform into beautiful flowers, bringing natural beauty out of tragedy. Other deities, including Eros and the Moirai (Fates), join in mourning the youth's untimely death. The poem beautifully contrasts the fleeting nature of life and love with the enduring power of grief and mythic beauty.
Poetry2 chunks · §1-51–§52-98237 aligned sentencesRead →