a famous Greek poet and musician, was, according to Herodotus, contemporary with Cardaules and Gyges, kings of Lydia, who flourished about the 14th Olympiad, 724 years before Christ. But he is placed much later by modern chronologists; viz. by Blair 686, and by Priezly 660 years, B.C.

He was born at Paros, one of the Cyclades. His father Telesicles was of so high a rank, that he was chosen by his countrymen to consult the oracle at Delphi concerning the founding a colony to Thasos: a proof that he was of one of the most distinguished families upon the island. However, he is said to have fulfilled his birth by an ignoble marriage with a slave called Enipe, of which alliance our poet-musician was the fruit.

Though Archilocheus showed an early genius and attachment to poetry and music, these arts did not prevent his going into the army, like other young men of his birth; but in the first engagement at which he was present, present, the young poet, like Horace, and like our own Suckling, lost his buckler, though he saved his life by the help of his heels. It is much easier, said he, to get a new buckler, than a new existence. This pleasantry, however, did not save his reputation; nor could his poetry or prayers prevail upon Lycambes, the father of his mistress, to let him marry his daughter, though she had been long promised to him. After these mortifications, his life seems to have been one continued tide of disgrace and resentment.

Archilocheum propriae voluntatis armamentum.

Hor. Art. Poet. 79.

Archilocheus, with fierce resentment warm'd, Was with his own severe laments arm'd.

The rage of Archilocheus was proverbial in antiquity; which compared the provoking this satyrish to the treading upon a serpent: A comparison not very severe, if it be true that Lycambes, and, as some say, his three daughters, were so mortified by his satire, as to be driven to the consolation of a halter.

In this piece, many adventures are mentioned, full of defamation, and out of the knowledge of the public. There were likewise many loose passages in it; and it is said to have been on account of this satire that the Lacedemonians laid a prohibition on his verses.

However, according to Plutarch, there is no bard of antiquity by whom the two arts of poetry and music have been so much advanced, as by Archilocheus. To him is attributed particularly the sudden transition from one rhythm to another of a different kind, and the manner of accompanying those irregular measures upon the lyre. Heroic poetry, in hexameter verse, seems to have been solely in use among the more ancient poets and musicians; and the transition from one rhythm to another, which lyric poetry required, was unknown to them: so that, if Archilocheus was the first author of this mixture, he might with propriety be called the Inventor of Lyric Poetry, which, after his time, became a species of versification wholly distinct from heroic.—To him is likewise ascribed the invention of Epodes. See EPODE.

Our poet-musician is generally ranked among the first victors of the Pythian games: and we learn from Pindar, that his muse was not always a teramant; for though no mortal escaped her rage, yet she was at times sufficiently tranquil and pious to dictate hymns in praise of the gods and heroes. One in particular, written in honour of Hercules, acquired him the acclamations of all Greece; for he sung it in full assembly at the Olympic games, and had the satisfaction of receiving from the judges the crown of victory consecrated to real merit. This hymn, or ode, was afterwards sung in honour of every victor at Olympia, who had no poet to celebrate his particular exploits.

Archilocheus was at last slain by one Callondax Corax, of the island of Naxos; who, though he did it in fight, according to the laws of war, was driven out of the temple of Delphi, by command of the oracle, for having deprived of life a man consecrated to the Muses.

The names of Homer and Archilocheus were equally revered and celebrated in Greece, as the two most excellent poets which the nation had ever produced. This appears from an epigram in the Anthology; and from Cicero, who ranks him with poets of the first class, and in his Epistles tells us, that the grammarian Aristophanes, the most rigid and scrupulous critic of his time, used to say, that the longest poem of Archilocheus always appeared to him the most excellent.