TC 2017; 9 (2): 248–280 Maria Noussia-Fantuzzi* ‘Lyric’ Atmosphere in Apollonius Rhodius and Callimachus (With an Analysis of Theocritus 18) https://doi.org/10.1515/tc-2017-0012 Abstract: This study examines a representative selection of Hellenistic instances of choroi in the works of the three main poets, Apollonius Rhodius, Theocritus and Callimachus. It does so through the notions of ‘choral self-referentiality’, ‘choral mediation’ and the stratagem of ‘choral projection’. Although Hellenis- tic choreia probably does not belong to the performative and multi-media milieu alongside lyric or tragic productions, it brings to the fore the continuity between archaic lyric poetry and Hellenistic poetry. This continuity largely consists in the tragic re-use of the choral element and the choral performance. Keywords: Apollonius Rhodius, Callimachus, Theocritus, Choral self-referenti- ality, Choral mediation, Choral projection, Choreia, circular dance, hymenaios / hymenaeal performance Lyric presence in Hellenistic poetry provides a rich seam of material; one which has been extensively mined.¹ Rather than reproducing these discussions here by regurgitating examples that have received much analysis, I will focus on one particular feature of lyric performance which has been neglected in regard to Hellenistic literary production, namely the chorus. The chorus, that is a dancing and singing ensemble performing all possible combinations of kinetic and vocal action, is an essential social reality of Greek history² and, as an institution, it ‘was 1 To cite but a few instances: for the Hellenistic reception of archaic lyric at multiple levels, in particular of Sappho, Alcaeus, Anacreon, Ibycus and Simonides, see Acosta-Hughes 2010; Barbantani 2009; Cusset 1999; Acosta-Hughes 2002 explores Callimachus in connection to the archaic iambos. For Callimachus and the early Greek elegists, see Massimilla 2014. On Pindaric motifs in Callimachus, see Newman 1985; Fuhrer 1988; 1992 and 1993; Bona 1995. For Theocritus, see Hunter 1996. For the Hellenistic epinician, see Barbantani 2012. 2 Calame 2001 2 . For the chorus in archaic Greece, see also Lonsdale 1993; Kowalzig 2007; Athanassaki / Bowie 2011. *Corresponding author: Maria Noussia-Fantuzzi, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessalo- niki, Greece, E-Mail: minoussia@lit.auth.gr Brought to you by | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Authenticated | minoussia@lit.auth.gr author's copy Download Date | 12/4/17 2:40 PM