Hymns and hymnal prayers in fifth century Greek tragedy with special reference to Euripides
A song of praise or of prayer addressed to a deity, which was generally called 'Hymn', was constructed in accordance with certain traditional principles, as far as its structure and vocabulary are concerned. In the various religious festivals and other events the Greeks sang such songs. The existing evidence offers valuable material to the student of the Greek sacral songs. Such songs are found in a considerable number in Greek Tragedy. Although they have a specific dramatic function, they follow the traditional forms to a greater or to a lesser extent. The comparison of these songs with similar songs among our sacral evidence, and also the comparison of the Euripidean with the Aeschylean and Sophoclean hymnal songs, shows that both Euripides and Sophocles follow the tradition to a considerable extent (Sophocles is the one closest to it in certain examples), while Aeschylus is far from it. Whereas the treatment of the gods is generally traditional, there is a great difference in the selection of the divine beings addressed, which is sometimes due to the dramatic context. The relation of these songs to the plot is rather independent in Sophocles, while in Aeschylus is purely dramatic; in Euripides it is either
Mantziou, M.
Philosophy
Hymns and hymnal prayers in fifth century Greek tragedy with special reference to Euripides. A song of praise or of prayer addressed to a deity, which was generally called 'Hymn', was constructed in accordance with certain traditional principles, as far as its structure and vocabulary are concerned. In the various religious festivals and other events the Greeks sang such songs. The existing evidence offers valuable material to the student of the Greek sacral songs. Such songs are found in a considerable number in Greek Tragedy. Although they have a specific dramatic function, they follow the traditional forms to a greater or to a lesser extent. The comparison of these songs with similar songs among our sacral evidence, and also the comparison of the Euripidean with the Aeschylean and Sophoclean hymnal songs, shows that both Euripides and Sophocles follow the tradition to a considerable extent (Sophocles is the one closest to it in certain examples), while Aeschylus is far from it. Whereas the treatment of the gods is generally traditional, there is a great difference in the selection of the divine beings addressed, which is sometimes due to the dramatic context. The relation of these songs to the plot is rather independent in Sophocles, while in Aeschylus is purely dramatic; in Euripides it is either
prayer greek_tragedy special_reference song praise prayer address deity generally call hymn construct accordance certain traditional principle far structure vocabulary concern various religious_festival event greeks sing song exist evidence offer valuable material student greek sacral song song find considerable_number greek_tragedy although specific dramatic function follow traditional form great less_extent comparison song similar song among sacral evidence also comparison song show sophocles follow tradition considerable extent sophocles close certain example aeschylus far whereas treatment god generally traditional great difference selection divine being address sometimes due dramatic context relation song plot rather independent sophocles aeschylus purely dramatic either