Bion of Smyrna facts for kids

Bion (pronounced BY-on) was an ancient Greek poet who lived a long, long time ago, probably around the end of the 2nd century BC or the start of the 1st century BC. He came from a city called Smyrna (which is now in modern-day Turkey). Bion was known for writing a special kind of poetry called bucolic poetry. This type of poetry is all about nature, shepherds, and country life. He is considered one of the three most famous bucolic poets from ancient Greece, along with Theocritus and Moschus. We still have one long poem by him about a mythical hero named Adonis, and seventeen shorter pieces of his poetry.

Who Was Bion?

We don't know many details about Bion's life. Ancient writers didn't record his exact birth or death dates. However, historians believe he was active in the late 100s BC or early 00s BC. An old poem written about Bion suggests he might have been poisoned and died when he was still young.

Bion's Poetry

Bion wrote bucolic poetry, which focuses on rural life, shepherds, and nature. This style was common for ancient Greek poets like Bion. All of his surviving poems are written in a specific rhythm called dactylic hexameter. They also use a special Greek dialect known as Doric.

The "Lament to Adonis"

Bion's longest surviving poem is called "Lament to Adonis." It is 98 lines long. This poem is a sad song about the death of Adonis, a beautiful young man in Greek mythology. The poem shows how much the goddess Aphrodite grieved for him. This type of poem, a "lament," was a traditional way to express sadness in ancient Greece.

Other Poems

Besides the "Lament to Adonis," we have seventeen shorter pieces of Bion's poetry. These fragments range from just one line to eighteen lines long. One of these shorter poems is about a bird hunter trying to catch Eros, the god of love. This poem might be a complete story on its own. The other fragments seem to come from at least four more poems that are now mostly lost.

How Bion's Work Was Remembered

People continued to read Bion's poems for many centuries after he lived. Other famous ancient poets, like Ovid and Catullus, mentioned his work in their own writings. Greek novelists also referenced Bion's poetry.

His longest poem, the "Lament to Adonis," was kept safe in two old handwritten books from the Middle Ages. For a while, people weren't sure who wrote it. But in 1530, a scholar named Joachim Camerarius suggested it was Bion's work. Since then, most people have agreed that Bion wrote it. The shorter fragments of his poetry were found in other ancient collections of writings.