A metron /ˈmɛtrɒn/, /ˈmɛtrən/ (from ancient Greek μέτρον "measure"), plural metra, is a repeating section, 3 to 6 syllables long, of a poetic metre.[1] The word is particularly used in reference to ancient Greek. According to a definition by Paul Maas, usually a metron consists of two long elements and up to two other elements which can be short, anceps or biceps.[2]
Thus an iambic metron is x – ᴗ – (where "x" represents an anceps element), a trochaic metron is – ᴗ – x, an ionic metron is ᴗ ᴗ – –, an anapaestic metron is ᴗᴗ – ᴗᴗ –, a cretic metron – ᴗ –, a baccheus is ᴗ – –, and a spondee is – –.[2]
This definition of the metron (i.e. as having two long elements) does not apply to the dactylic hexameter or to the dochmiac metre, but some scholars regard the dactyl (– ᴗᴗ) and the dochmiac (ᴗ – – ᴗ –) as metra in their own right.[3] Some of the more complex lyric metres, such as the dactylo-epitrite used in some of Pindar's odes, are not usually analysed in terms of metra.[4]
Some metra, such as the iambic x – ᴗ – or the trochaic – ᴗ – x, can be analysed as consisting of two "feet". In this case the metron is also sometimes known as a "dipody" /ˈdɪpədɪ/,[5] from ancient Greek διποδία.[6]
- ^ West, M. L. (1987). Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford); p. 5.
- ^ a b Maas, Paul (translated by H. Lloyd-Jones) (1962) Greek Metre, pp. 38–39.
- ^ Oxford Classical Dictionary (3rd edition), s.v. Metre, Greek.
- ^ For dactylo-epitrite see West, M. L. (1987). Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford); pp. 33–34.
- ^ Collins English Dictionary.
- ^ Liddell, Scott, Jones, Greek Lexicon, διποδία.