Archilochus of Paros (c. 680–645 BCE)

Generally regarded as the first of the lyric poets, Archilochus of Paros (c. 680–645 BCE) was ranked by the ancients beside the likes of Homer, Pindar and Sophocles. His later fame is centred around savage and scathing satire. His work mainly survives in the quotations by later writers and some fragments. See here for a more detailed biographical sketch.

© Ian Hughes 2017