Hymns and Epigrams. Lycophron: Alexandra. Aratus: Phaenomena Hardback

Callimachus of Cyrene, 3rd century BCE, became after 284 a teacher of grammar and poetry at Alexandria.

He was made a librarian in the new library there and prepared a catalogue of its books.

He died about the year 240. Of his large published output, only 6 hymns, 63 epigrams, and fragments survive (the fragments are in Loeb no. 421). The hymns are very learned and artificial in style; the epigrams are good (they are also in the Loeb Greek Anthology volumes). Lycophron of Chalcis in Euboea was a contemporary of Callimachus in Alexandria where he became supervisor of the comedies included in the new library.

He wrote a treatise on these and composed tragedies and other poetry.

We possess Alexandra or Cassandra wherein Cassandra foretells the fortune of Troy and the besieging Greeks.

This poem is a curiosity-a showpiece of knowledge of obscure stories, names, and words. Aratus of Soli in Cilicia, ca. 315-245 BCE, was a didactic poet at the court of Antigonus Gonatas of Macedonia, where he wrote his famous astronomical poem Phaenomena (Appearances).

He was for a time in the court of Antiochus I of Syria but returned to Macedonia.

Phaenomena was highly regarded in antiquity; it was translated into Latin by Cicero, Germanicus Caesar, and Avienus.