ARCHILOCHUS, tir-kilttekfis (Gk. 'Apxaoxoe, Arehilochos). A native of the island of Paros, who flourished in the Seventh Century rt.c., and is regarded as the first of the Greek lyric poets, although the origin of the elegy is clainied by CaMims, a writer whose age seems to have slightly preceded that of Archilochus. Glimpses of his life, especially of the calamities which be fell him, were frequently given in his writings. His father's name was Telesieles; his mother was a slave called Enipo. At an early age. becoming entangled in political contests, he abandoned his native town and led a colony of its citizens to Thasos, in 650 or 640 u.c. While here, as he in forms us in some extant verses, he lost his shield in a battle against the Thracians, yet not through cowardice. Subsequently he was ban ished from Sparta, to which lie had gone, some say because he had vindicated his conduct in running away from the fight, others, because of the license of his verses. He is said to have gained the laurel-wreath at the Olympic games by an ode in honor of Hercules, but this is doubtful. Having returned to Paros, he took part in the war which broke out between it and Naxus, in the course of which he lost his life. The Delphian oracle pronounced a curse upon his slayer. Variety, novelty, and satirical bit terness characterized his lyric poems; so much so that "Archilochian bitterness" and "Parian verse" became bywords in ancient times. He
scourged his enemies in the most merciless fashion. and always displayed the most malicious skill in selecting for his sarcasm the points on which they were most sensitive. It is said that Lyeambes, who had promised his daughter Neo bule in marriage to Archilochus, having failed to fulfill his promise. was so severely satirized by the poet that, to escape ridicule, both father and daughter hanged themselves. Among the ancients, Archilochus was ranked with Homer. They dedicated the statues of both on the same day, and placed the head of .Archilochus beside that of Homer on the same berm. As Homer was the creator of epic poetry, so Archilochus was regarded as the inventor of the poetry of the passions and of biting raillery, and he became the model for the Old Athenian Comedy and for later poets--e.g., for Horace in his earlier period. He is said to have invented many new metrical forms, but his fame and influence were due primarily to his native genius. Only bare fragments of his compositions remain; ed ited by Bergk, Porter Lyrici Grwei (Leipzig. 1882) ; Reitzenstein. "Zwei nerve Fragmente der Epoden des Arehiloehos," in Nit.zungsberichte der prcussisehen Alaub mie der Wissensrhaften (Ber lin, 1899).