Alexandra (Lykrophon) facts for kids
"Alexandra" is an ancient Greek poem written by a poet named Lykophron. We don't know much about Lykophron, except for this one poem. It was written a very long time ago, between 196 and 190 BC. The poem is quite long, with 1474 lines. It's written in a style called "iambic trimeter," which was a common way to write Greek tragedies.
The Story of Alexandra
The poem tells a dramatic story through the eyes of a guard. This guard is reporting to King Priam, the king of Troy, about what his daughter, Kassandra, has been saying. Kassandra, who is also called Alexandra in the poem, has a special gift: she can see the future, but sadly, no one believes her warnings.
The story begins as Paris, a prince of Troy, is about to leave for Sparta. His plan is to take Helena, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. This act will cause the famous Trojan War. Kassandra is left in a temple, guarded by someone her father, Priam, has instructed. The entire poem is the report this guard gives to Priam about Kassandra's prophecies.
Kassandra first talks about how the mighty hero Herakles once destroyed Troy. Then, she foretells the events of the upcoming Trojan War. A large part of her speech is about what happens to the Greek heroes after the war, as they try to return home. She describes the long and difficult travels of Odysseus and how he finally made it back to his wife, Penelope. Kassandra also predicts how Aeneas, a Trojan hero, will successfully settle in Rome. She sees Rome growing into a powerful empire.
The final part of the poem focuses on a never-ending conflict between Europe and Asia. This includes events like the Persian Wars and the conquests of Alexander the Great. Kassandra even predicts that six generations after Alexander, a relative of his will defeat the Macedonians, bringing an end to the fighting. Kassandra's speech ends with a feeling of sadness, as she knows she cannot stop these future events. The guard finishes his report by wishing good fortune for the Trojans.
The Poem's Language
The language of "Alexandra" is known for being quite difficult to understand. This is because of its special vocabulary and the use of old forms of words. Out of about 3000 words in the poem, 518 words are only found in this poem, and 117 appear for the first time here.
One of the main challenges for readers is that people are usually not named directly. Instead, they are described by what they did. For example, a hero might be called "the one who sailed the seas" instead of "Odysseus." Similarly, places are not named but are described by landmarks or events that happened there. Many scholars have tried to figure out who these people and places are, but sometimes it's still a mystery.
Works by and about Alexandra (Lykrophon) in the German National Library catalogue
