Alcman

Alcman (ălk`mən), fl. 620 B.C., Greek lyric poet of Sparta. He was the earliest writer of Dorian choral poetry whose work has survived. Short choral fragments and a longer one (part of a parthenion or choir song for girls) are extant. His verse, simple, clear, and musical, was often sung at festivals.

Bibliography

See his Partheneion (ed. by D. L. Page, 1951); Archilochos, Sappho, Alkman (tr. by G. Davenport, 1980).