Praxilla
Who was Praxilla?
Poet of the 5th century; there is very little surviving of her works
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Praxilla (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Praxilla was a Greek lyric poet from the 5th century BC who lived in Sicyon, a city-state on the Gulf of Corinth in the northeastern Peloponnese. She wrote in different styles, including religious choral lyrics, drinking songs called skolia, and mythological tales. Today, only five direct quotes and three paraphrases of her work remain, making her one of many ancient Greek poets whose works have mostly been lost over time.
The variation in Praxilla's surviving works has led scholars to form different ideas about her social and professional life. Some think she might have been a hetaira, or courtesan, which could have allowed her more freedom to write and perform drinking songs in male social settings. Others believe she was a professional musician who performed at social gatherings. The mix of her sacred choral works and secular drinking songs has sparked different theories, including that the works credited to her might actually be from multiple authors or different traditions.
Despite the few texts remaining, there is evidence that Praxilla was quite famous in her time and afterward. The well-known sculptor Lysippus made a bronze statue in her honor, showing she was highly regarded by her peers and future generations. The comic playwright Aristophanes parodied her work in his plays, which shows her importance in ancient Greek literary culture, as comic poets usually mocked well-known figures.
Praxilla's impact has reached the modern era, inspiring contemporary artists. Visual artist Cy Twombly mentioned her in his paintings, while feminist artist Judy Chicago included her in "The Dinner Party," a major installation celebrating women throughout history. Irish poet Michael Longley adapted one of her surviving poems for today's audiences, highlighting how ancient Greek poetry still connects with people across cultures and time periods.
Before Fame
Little is known about Praxilla's early life or how she became a poet. She lived in the 5th century BC, during the peak of classical Greek civilization when lyric poetry was a well-established literary form. This time period saw the growth of various poetic genres, including the choral lyric tradition that earlier poets like Pindar and Bacchylides had developed.
In 5th-century Greece, skilled poets could gain recognition through performances at religious festivals, symposia, and social gatherings. Women's roles in literary culture varied greatly depending on their social status and regional customs. Despite generally limited roles for women in ancient Greek society, some women gained fame as professional performers or composers.
Key Achievements
- Composed poetry in multiple genres including religious choral lyrics and drinking songs
- Achieved sufficient fame to be commemorated in bronze by the sculptor Lysippus
- Became well-known enough to be parodied by the comic playwright Aristophanes
- Created mythological retellings that were preserved and transmitted through antiquity
- Influenced modern artists including Cy Twombly, Judy Chicago, and Michael Longley
Did You Know?
- 01.She was honored with a bronze sculpture by Lysippus, one of the most famous sculptors of ancient Greece who also created works depicting Alexander the Great
- 02.Aristophanes parodied her poetry in his comedies, placing her among the notable literary figures of her time worthy of satirical treatment
- 03.Only eight fragments of her work survive in total: five direct quotations and three paraphrases of mythological retellings
- 04.Modern artist Cy Twombly created paintings that reference her fragmentary poems, bridging ancient and contemporary art
- 05.She is one of only a few ancient Greek women poets whose work in the symposium tradition of drinking songs has been preserved