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An ancient Greek rhapsody was a selection of epic poetry sung by a rhapsode or rhapsodist. The word rhapsode comes from the Greek words rhapsōidēs (ῥαψῳδός), which means "stitcher of songs". This is because rhapsodes would often stitch together different passages of epic poetry to create a longer, more cohesive performance. Cleisthenes of Sicyon - Wikipedia abolished all the rhapsodes of Homer because they praised the citizens of Argos.
Rhapsodes
Rhapsodes were professional performers who travelled from polis to polis, reciting epic poems to audiences. They were often accompanied by music, such as the lyre or aulos. Rhapsodes were highly skilled in the art of improvisation, and they would often add their own commentary and embellishments to the poems they performed.
In preliterate societies, poetry and song served a mnemonic purpose for the memorisation and recital of the legends and folktales of those societies which had not been written down. The rhyme and rhythm of a poem or song make the words easier to remember and pass onto others. In pre-classical Greece, oral poetry was used to relate the tales from Greek myth - epic tales of olden-day heroes and their interactions with the gods.
These epic tales were preserved and retold by a professional class of bards or minstrels known as aoidoi or rhapsoidoi (rhapsodes or “song-stitchers”). The craft of the rhapsodes lay in their memory and knowledge of the vast corpus of Greek myth and legend. They had the ability to select and shape episodes from this corpus for public recitation. This oral poetry was typically sung or recited in the flowing rhythm of dactylic hexameter. In general Greek poetry did not use rhyme; the Ancient Greek language had too many natural rhythms for this to be considered beautiful.
At religious festivals throughout the Athenian year. Rhapsodes, the professional performers and singers of Homeric and other epics, sought an audience at the religious events where the crowds were so gathered. As with many Greek institutions competition was important. Rhapsodes formally competed against one another before groups of judges. The winner was awarded a prize. Such competitions may have been the origins of the competitions held at the Dionysian and Lenaean festivals for tragedy and comedy theatrical performances.
It was the rhapsodes who educated the Greek masses in their mythology,
Here are some of the more famous ancient Greek rhapsodes:
Demodocus of Rhodes, who was mentioned in Homer's Odyssey as a rhapsode who performed at the court of King Alcinous.Epicharmus of Cos was a rhapsode and poet who lived in the 6th century BC.
Stesichorus of Himera was a rhapsode and poet who lived in the 7th and 6th centuries BC.
Arion of Lesbos, was a rhapsode and poet who lived in the 7th and 6th centuries BC.
Homer, the legendary author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.
It is also possible to consider Thespis to have been a rhapsodist. He travelled from place to place, performing before audiences.
Rhapsodes and Ancient Greek Drama
it is very likely that Rhapsodes had a significant influence on the origin of Ancient Greek drama. Rhapsodes were professional performers of epic poetry, most famously the works of Homer like the Iliad and Odyssey. Their role in the oral tradition and public performance provided a foundation for the development of Greek theatrical practices in several ways:
Performance Techniques: Rhapsodes were skilled in recitation, often using expressive voice, gestures, and rhythm to engage audiences. These techniques likely influenced the dramatic styles employed in early Greek drama, particularly the use of actors and the chorus.
Storytelling and Myth: The content of rhapsodic performances, which centred on myths and heroic tales, formed the narrative core of much of Greek drama. Tragedies and comedies frequently drew from the same mythological corpus, reinterpreting the stories for theatrical presentations
Choral Elements: The rhapsodic tradition also emphasised the communal and ritualistic aspects of performance. The chorus in Greek drama, which played a central role in early tragedies, might have evolved from similar collective narrative practices found in epic recitations.
Religious and Civic Context: Rhapsodic performances were often part of religious festivals, such as the Panathenaic Festival in Athens, which celebrated Athena. Similarly, Greek drama emerged in a religious context, particularly during festivals honoring Dionysus, like the City Dionysia. The overlap in ritualistic function suggests a continuity in the cultural use of performance.
Transition to Dialogue: While rhapsodes performed solo with an emphasis on narrative, Greek drama introduced dialogue between characters, often derived from interactions hinted at in epic poetry. This evolution from monologue to dialogue was a pivotal step towards fully developed drama.
Use of Odeons: In ancient Greece odeons were small, roofed theatres used for musical performances, poetry recitals, and political gatherings. Rhapsodes used odeons for their performances. Unlike the larger open-air theatres they were designed for indoor use. The most famous example of an odeon is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, built in 161 AD on the south side of the Acropolis. Their design was influenced by the theatrons of large, open-air Greek theatres but adapted for indoor use. They were roofed to enhance acoustics; this was also a necessity in Bouleuterions. They had tiered seating similar to the theatres used for drama but in a smaller, more intimate layout.
References
Rhapsode - ancient Greek singer - Britannica
The Oxford Classical Dictionary : Ross, W. D. Ed.- Rhapsodes - Internet Archive
Ion (dialogue) - Wikipedia
The Internet Classics Archive - Ion by Plato
The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric - Google Books
Jonathan Ready; Christos Tsagalis (13 August 2018). Homer in Performance: Rhapsodes, Narrators, and Characters. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-4773-1603-0.
George Grote (1882). A History of Greece from the Earliest Period to the Close of the Generation Contemporary with Alexander the Great. Allison. pp. 135–.
Judith A. Hamera (2006). Opening Acts: Performance In/as Communication and Cultural Studies. SAGE. ISBN 978-1-4129-0558-9.
Jonathan Ready; Christos Tsagalis (13 August 2018). Homer in Performance: Rhapsodes, Narrators, and Characters. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-4773-1603-0.
Dictionary of the Ancient Greek World
Rhapsodes at Festivals
Martin L. West
Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik
Bd. 173 (2010), pp. 1-13
Published by: Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH
https://www.jstor.org/stable/20756824
González, José M. 2013. The Epic Rhapsode and His Craft: Homeric Performance in a Diachronic Perspective. Hellenic Studies Series 47. Washington, DC: Center for Hellenic Studies.
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.ebook:CHS_GonzalezJ.The_Epic_Rhapsode_and_his_Craft.2013.
10. The Rhapsode in Performance
13. Rhapsodic hypokrisis and Aristotelian lexis
Introduction: Toward an Understanding of Greek Poetic Contestation - Center for Hellenic Studies
