A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

(Χαριξένα), a lyric poetess, mentioned by Eustathius, who calls her ποιήτρια κρουμάτων (Ad Iliad. β́ 711.) Aristophanes alludes to her in a passage which the Scholiast and lexicographers explain as a proverbial expression implying that she was " silly and foolish." (Ecclesiaz. 943; Suidas, s. v.; Etymol. Mag. and Hesychius, s. v. ἐπὶ Χαριξένης.) She is said to have been also a flute-player, and an erotic poetess. (Etym. Mag. and Hesych. l.c.) Nothing is known of her time or country. The reference to her as an erotic poetess has been understood as indicating that she belonged to the Aeolic lyric school; and the words of Hesychius (ἀρχαία οὖσα) perhaps imply that she lived at a very early period.

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