(ῥαψῳδοί/rhapsōidoí). Professional reciters of (as a rule epic) poetry. The profession emerged in Greece in the 8th cent. BC as a consequence of the transition from speech to writing as a medium for the transmission of information (Literacy/Orality).
The first component of the word is the stem of the verb ῥάπτειν/rháptein, 'sew' (cf. modern Greek ῥαπτο-μηχανή/rhapto-mēchanḗ, 'sewing machine'); the second element the stem of the noun ᾠδή/ōidḗ (< ἀοιδή/aoidḗ), …
Cite this page
Latacz, Joachim (Basle),
“Rhapsodes”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e1021790>