Glyconic

Glyconic, (from Glycon, a Greek lyric poet), describes a form of meter in classical Greek and Latin poetry. The glyconic line is the most basic form of Aeolic verse, and it is often combined with others.

The basic shape is as follows (where x indicates an anceps, - a longum, and u a brevis):

x x - u u - u -

As in all classical verse forms, the phenomenon of brevis in longo is observed, so the last syllable can actually be short or long.

Runs of glyconic lines are often ended by a pherecratean (the same except lacking the last brevis), as in the glyconic and pherecratean stanzas found in Anacreon and Catullus (i.e. Catullus 34 and 61).

The name priapean is given to the combination of glyconic and pherecratean:

xx-uu-u-|xx-uu--

References

• Daniel H. Garrison (editor). The Student's Catullus. University of Oklahoma Press: Norman, 2004.

Further reading

• M. L. West. Greek Metre. Oxford University Press, 1982.