Argos 6th century B.C.E. | Unknown 6th century B.C.E.
Period of activity: From 510 a.C. until
Geographical classification: Europe > Greece
Socio-cultural movements
Antiquity > Greek culture > Archaic period
Groups by dedication
Writers > Poets
Writers > * in > (Ancient) Greek
Context of feminine creation
Lyrical poetess, creator of the telesillean verse and fighting leader against Cleomenes I in the Battle of Sepeia; she claimed equality and female public participation in the city of Argos.
The figure and work of Telesilla links with the female members of the lyrical movement in Continental Greece: Myrtis, Praxilla of Sicyon, Corinna from Tanagra, Erinna from Telos, Anyte, Sappho from Lesbos, Moero and Nossis.
Telesilla was a lyrical poet of hymnic-religious or mythical themes, from the year 510 BC, who created the telesillean verse and fought against Cleomenes I in the Battle of Sepeia. The Hybristika festival arose from this confrontation. She claimed equality and female public participation in the city of Argos.
She is one of a group of voices described as the first "canon" of female lyric poetry in ancient Greece _epigram AP IX 26 attributed to Antipater of Thessalonica_, where she is listed as one of the nine Muses.
This lyrical poetess was born in Argos and her birth dates back to 510 BC. The biographical information we have about her is provided by Plutarch, who tells us that she came from a noble family and that she had poor health, which led her to devout herself to poetry and music by order of the oracle of Apollo. Eventually, she healed and became one of the 9 muses, as Antipater of Thessalonica named it in an epigram attributed to him.
She fought against Cleomenes I in the battle of Sepea and demanded equality and public participation for the women of the city of Argos. She is part of an important lyrical movement of Continental Greece that made its way through the 6th century BC and whose representatives are women: Telesilla of Argos, Myrtis, Praxilla of Sicyo, Corinna from Tanagra, Erinna, Anyte, Sappho, Moero and Nossis.
Their poetry is hymnic-religious or mythical. They attributed the dances of the opposing male and female choirs to the commemoration of the military feat of Telesilla, who armed and dressed women as men in order to defend her city against Cleomenes I in the Battle of Sepeia, giving rise to the celebration of the Hybristika or Endymatia festivals.
She created a new verse, called telesillean (acefallous or "headless" glyconic). Her only surviving verses belong to a parthenion about the love of Artemis and the river Alpheus, which was composed to be performed by a choir of maidens.
She, like other poets, influenced later authors and female authors.
-Conejo Aróstegui, María Esther (1999). “La mujer en la Poesía Lírica Griega”, Revista de Filología y Lingüística XXV (Extraordinario), pp. 199-204, (retrieved on 23/07/2021), <https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/filyling/article/download/20498/20733/>
-Mayor Ferrándiz, Teresa María (1998). “Telesila de Argos: entre la realidad y el mito". Mitos: actas del VII Congreso Internacional de la Asociación Española de Semiótica (Investigaciones Semióticas VII), Vol. 3, pp. 113-117, (retrieved on 23/07/2021), <https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=3030362>
-Valdés Guía, Miriam (2005). “La Batalla de Sepea y las Hybrístikas: culto, mito y ciudadanía en la sociedad argiva”. Gerión, 23, n.º 1, pp. 101-114, (retrieved on 23/07/2021), <https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/GERI/article/view/GERI0505110101A/14093>
-Valdés Guía, Miriam (2006-2008). “El culto de Afrodita armada en Amiclas (Esparta) y la fundación de Tarento.” Arys, n.º 7, pp. 69-82, (retrieved on 23/07/2021), <https://e-revistas.uc3m.es/index.php/ARYS/article/download/5572/3955>
-Biedma, José (2021). “Telesila y la poesía femenina de su tiempo” in Mujeresparalahistoria.blogspot.com, (retrieved on 20/05/2021), <https://mujeresparalahistoria.blogspot.com/2021/03/telesila-y-la-poesia-femenina-de-su.html>
-Díaz, Yosue (2019). “Telesila de Argos: Valentía, igualdad femenina y coraje en la Antigua Grecia” in Culturizando.com, (retrieved on 20/05/2021), <https://culturizando.com/telesila-argos-valentia-igualdad-femenina-coraje-la-antigua-grecia/>
-Mark, Joshua J. (2014). “Tellesila de Argos. Quien fue” in Edukavital.blogspot.com, (retrieved on 23/07/2021), <https://edukavital.blogspot.com/2014/07/nuestras-reuniones-todo-en-uno-teu_20.html>
-Classical culture: Block Classical roots of today's world. Everyday life; Block Continuity of cultural heritage. Literature (Poetry), art and science.
-Greek Baccalaureate: Block The text: comprehension and translation; Block Literary education.
-Spanish Language and Literature ESO: Literary Education Block.
-Universal Literature 1st Baccalaureate: Interpretation of Greek period fragments of different genres and themes.
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