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Korinna
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135 korinna Korinna This Boiotian poet was probably a contemporary of Pindar, but it is also possible that she lived in the late third century bce. Until the papyrus finds of this century, she was known only in the scantiest of fragments. Her works included narrative choral lyrics intended for an audience of women, on such subjects as the Seven Against Thebes. Her diction and meter are simple, her dialect chiefly Boiotian. Daughter of Acheloodoros and Hippokrateia, of Thebes or Tanagra; a pupil of Myrtis and a lyric poet. It is reported that she gained victory five times over Pindar in poetry competitions. She wrote five books as well as Inscriptions and Lyric Nomes. Suda Lexicon When Pindar the poet competed at Thebes he ran into ignorant judges, and was defeated five times by Korinna. To show the judges’ bad taste, Pindar called Korinna a pig. Claudius Aelianus, Historical Miscellanies When Pindar was still young and proud of his mastery of language, Korinna censured him for his poor taste. Plutarch, Glory of Athens On Herself I Korinna am here to sing the courage of heroes and heroines in old myths. To daughters of Tanagra in white robes, I sing. And all the city is delighted with the clean water of my plaintive voice. The Contest of Helikon and Kithairon Kithairon sang of cunning Kronos and sacred Rhea who stole her son Zeus, mighty among immortals. The Greek Period 136 Then the Muses asked the gods to put their ballot stones in the urn of gold. All stood up and Kithairon won the greater part. Hermes shouted loud, at once proclaiming sweet victory. The gods adorned his brow with flowers, and Kithairon rejoiced. But Helikon was stunned with bitter rage, and tore a massive boulder from the mountain. Insanely he shouted and lobbed the rock down on thousands of mortals below. Hermes When he sailed into the harbor his ship became a snorting horse. Hermes ravished the white city while the wind like a nightingale sang with his whirling battle axe. Rout of the Eretrian Fleet For you alone, Tanagra, Hermes came to fight with his naked fists. On Myrtis Although I was her pupil, Even I reproach Myrtis of the crystalline voice. She was a mere woman poet, yet she challenged Pindar. On Herself Will you sleep forever? There was a time, Korinna, when you were not a loafer. ...