Hybrias (Greek: Ὑβρίας) (fl. 6th century BC) was a Cretan mercenary and lyric poet. He was the author of a highly esteemed skolion (drinking song) called the "Spear-song", which has been preserved by Athenaeus (XV, pp. 695–696), Eustathius of Thessalonica (Commentary on the Odyssey, p. 47 & p. 276) and the Greek Anthology.
In this piece, Hybrias proclaimed himself a great warrior: "I have great wealth – a spear, a sword and a fine shield to save my skin. With these I plough, I reap, I tread the sweet grapes and am called master of my serfs. All those that dare not hold the spear and sword and fine shield to save their skin, all bow and kiss my knee, calling me master and great king".[1][2]
References
edit- ^ Jones, Peter (16 January 2016). "Ancient and Modern: The mercenaries of IS and ancient Greece". The Spectator. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ "Skolion (drinking song) attributed to Hybrias the Cretan". Fairfield University faculty. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
Public domain sources (PDS)
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Elliott, James William (1870). "The Song of Hybrias the Cretan". In Smith, William (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Vol. 2. p. 467.
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