About Theognis
Theognis was a Greek lyric poet active in approximately the sixth century BC. The work attributed to him consists of gnomic poetry quite typical of the time, featuring ethical maxims and practical advice about life. He was the first Greek poet best known to express concern over the eventual fate and survival of his own work and, along with Homer, Hesiod and the authors of the Homeric Hymns, he is among the earliest poets whose work has been preserved in a continuous manuscript tradition (the work of other archaic poets is preserved as scattered fragments). The verses preserved under Theognis' name are written from the viewpoint of an aristocrat confronted by social and political revolution typical of Greek cities in the archaic period. Part of his work is addressed to Cyrnus, who is presented as his er?menos.Browse all poems and texts published on Theognis
Sympotic topics covered by Theognis include for example wine, politics, friendship, war, life's brevity, human nature, wealth, love and so on. Distinctions are frequently made between Good and Bad, a dichotomy based on a class distinction between aristocrats and Others
