Mimnermus

• a Greek elegiac poet of Colophon, the inventor of the pentameter, Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 65; 2, 2, 101: Mimnermi versus, i. e. elegiac poetry, Prop. 1, 9, 11.

(Μίμνερμος). A native of Colophon or Smyrna; and creator of the erotic type of Greek elegy, an older contemporary of Solon. He flourished about B.C. 630-600. He gave his collection of love elegies the name of the beautiful fluteplayer Nanno, who on account of his advanced age would not return his love. There are only a few fragments of his poems left; their chief themes are the melancholy complaint of old age abandoned by love, the transitoriness of the life of man, and the exhortation to enjoy youth, the age of love. His language is simple and tender, and the ancients therefore called him “the sweet singer” (Λιγυαστάδης, in Solon's lines to Mimnermus; Bergk's Poëtae Lyrici, Solon, fragm. 20). The remains of Mimnermus have been separately edited by Bach (Leipzig, 1826).

• writes elegy on fight fought by Smyrnaeans against Gyges and Lydians: Paus. 9.29.4