Rhythmic speculations on an epode by Archilochus

Abstract

In this article, we provide a quantitative analysis of the verses of fr. 196 W by Archilochus, the “Cologne epode 1”, by comparing them to the extant verses of other epodic fragments and other fragments written in stichic metre by the same poet, so as to show how rhythmic characteristics have been manipulated in order to generate and betray the expectations of the audience. This analysis will be carried out in section three, following a general introduction to epodic metre and a translation of the Cologne epode 1.