Magis rythmus quam metron: the structure of Seneca's anapaests, and the oral/aural nature of Latin poetry

Lieven Danckaert (1)

1 GIST - Generative Initiatives in Syntactic Theory

The aim of this contribution is twofold. The empirical focus is the metrical structure of Seneca's anapaestic odes. On the basis of a detailed formal analysis, in which special attention is paid to the delimitation and internal structure of metrical periods, I argue against the dimeter colometry traditionally assumed. This conclusion in turn is based on a second, more methodological claim, namely that in establishing the colometry of an ancient piece of poetry, the modern metrician is only allowed to set apart a given string of metrical elements as a separate metron, colon or period, if this postulated metrical entity could 'aurally' be distinguished as such by the hearer.

Mots clés: metre; rhythm; Seneca; anapaests; orality

Domaines: Etudes classiques; Littératures; Linguistique

Lieven Danckaert. Magis rythmus quam metron: the structure of Seneca's anapaests, and the oral/aural nature of Latin poetry. Symbolae Osloenses, 2013, 87 (1), pp.148-217. ⟨10.1080/00397679.2013.842310⟩. ⟨halshs-01527668⟩