Theocritus

Steven Walker

Ed. by Vaios Liapis, Open University of Cyprus
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.1: Greek Writing and Culture: Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Imperial, -800--100.
Vol. editors: Jonathan Burgess (University of Toronto), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Vaios Liapis (Open University of Cyprus), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Mali Skotheim (Ashoka University), Laura Swift (The Open University)

Dates

Born c. -310
Died c. -240
Activity c. -285--240

Places

Born in Italy
Active in Ancient Greece

Activities

Primary

Poet

Resources

Of all the poets who flourished in the Golden Age of Alexandrian literature (c.280-c.240 BCE), Theocritus, most celebrated as the inventor of pastoral, has had the most significant and long-term influence on the course of Western literature. In terms of the intrinsic literary value of his extant poems (collectively known as The Idylls, although some epigrams are also attributed to him), he may also be considered as the last great Greek poet.

The life of Theocritus, like the lives of most ancient Greek authors, cannot be written in terms of solidly established historical knowledge; almost all that we know of him is through his poetry. But if one examines his works for possible autobiographical references, one can frame r…

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2004 words

Citation: Walker, Steven. "Theocritus". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 April 2008 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4363, accessed 24 November 2024.]

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