SOURCE: Snyder, Jane M. “Korinna's ‘Glorious Songs of Heroes.’” Eranos 82 (1984): 125-34.

In the following essay, Snyder examines three major fragments of Corinna's works and argues that the poet has not received due critical respect in modern times.

Since the publication in 1930 of E. Lobel's theory that Korinna of Tanagra was a Hellenistic writer [see Further Reading]—despite ancient evidence connecting her with the 5th century b.c.—nearly all the scholarship about her poetry has centered on the controversy surrounding her date. The dispute continues, with the pendulum now perhaps swinging back in the direction of the 5th century, but it seems unlikely that the question will be finally resolved on the basis of the evidence presently at hand.¹ As a result of the focus on the issue of Korinna's date, as well as the initial difficulties inherent in establishing the text of the three major fragments, little...