Now the music appropriated to the harp, such as it
was in the time of Terpander, continued in all its simplicity, till Phrynis grew into esteem. For it was not the
ancient custom to make lyric poems in the present style, or
to intermix measures and rhythms. For in each nome
they were careful to observe its own proper pitch; whence
came the expression nome (from νόμος,
law), because it was
unlawful to alter the pitch appointed for each one. At
length, falling from their devotion to the Gods, they began
to sing the verses of Homer and other poets. This is
manifest by the proems of Terpander. Then for the form
[p. 108]
of the harp, it was such as Cepion, one of Terpander's
scholars, first caused to be made, and it was called the Asian
harp, because the Lesbian harpers bordering upon Asia
always made use of it. And it is said that Periclitus, a
Lesbian by birth, was the last harper who won a prize by
his skill, which he did at one of the Spartan festivals called
Carneia; but he being dead, that succession of skilful musicians, which had so long continued among the Lesbians,
expired. Some there are who erroneously believe that
Hipponax was contemporary with Terpander, when it is
plain that Hipponax lived after Periclitus.
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