The "Swan Song" and its musical character in ancient Greek literature

What is it about?

In Greek Literature the characteristics of swans are used as a metaphor for a variety of human values. Their colour, their bravery and their singing are the three main characteristics we usually find in Greek texts as synonyms for beauty, courage and musical dexterity. This paper shows if it is possible to discover how ancient writers imagined the "Swan Song" might have sounded. It analyses the type of sound the relevant texts represent as their singing and even the use of their bodies as instruments in certain texts.

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Why is it important?

This papers gives an innovative vision on the matter of the "Swang Song" as a mere dirge of death in literature.