Everything about Paean totally explained
Paean (pronounced as the last two syllables of "European", ) is a term used to describe a type of song. It comes from the
ancient Greek use of the term, which was also used as the name of the healer of the
gods.
Ancient Greek Paean
In
Homer, Paean was the
Greek physician of the gods. In other writers the word is a mere epithet of
Apollo in his capacity as a god of healing, but it isn't known whether Paean was originally a separate
Deity or merely an aspect of Apollo.
Homer leaves the question unanswered.
Hesiod definitely separates the two, and in later poetry Paean is invoked independently as a
health god. It is equally difficult to discover the relation between Paean or Paeon in the sense of "healer" and Paean in the sense of "song." Farnell refers to the ancient association between the healing craft and the singing of spells, and says that it's impossible to decide which is the original sense. At all events the meaning of "healer" gradually gave place to that of "
hymn," from the phrase
Ιή Παιάν.
Such songs were originally addressed to Apollo, and afterwards to other gods,
Dionysus,
Helios,
Asclepius. About the
4th century the paean became merely a formula of adulation; its object was either to implore protection against
disease and misfortune, or to offer thanks after such protection had been rendered. Its connection with Apollo as the slayer of the
Python led to its association with battle and victory; hence it became the custom for a paean to be sung by an army on the march and before entering into battle, when a fleet left the harbour, and also after a victory had been won.
The most famous paeans are those of
Bacchylides and
Pindar. Paeans were sung at the festivals of Apollo (especially the
Hyacinthia), at banquets, and later even at public
funerals. In later times they were addressed not only to the gods, but to
human beings. In this manner the
Rhodians celebrated
Ptolemy I of Egypt, the
Samians Lysander of
Sparta, the
Athenians Demetrius, the
Delphians
Craterus of
Macedon.
Musically, the paean was a choral ode, and originally had an
antiphonal character, in which a leader sang in a
monodic style, with the chorus responding with a simple, informal phrase; however, later in its development, the paean was an entirely choral form. Typically the paean was in the
Dorian mode (note that the Ancient Greek Dorian was different from the modern Dorian mode; see
musical mode), and was accompanied by the
kithara, which was Apollo's instrument. Paeans meant to be sung on the battlefield were accompanied by
aulos and kithara.
Two musical fragments of paeans survive from late antiquity: one by
Limenius of Athens, and another anonymous. The fragment by Limenius has been dated to
128 BC.
Modern Paean
Paean is now usually used to mean an expression of praise or exultation (such as its coining in the tautological expression "paeans of praise").
Further Information
Get more info on 'Paean'.
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