Life No biographical information exists for the anonymous author(s) of the Ἰαμβικὰ Ἀδέσποτα (Iambic Work Anonymous). The work’s dating to the Hellenistic and Imperial periods (3rd century BCE–2nd century CE) is consistent with its literary context within the continuing iambic tradition [2]. The social and geographical background of the poet is entirely unknown.

Works The known work is the Ἰαμβικὰ Ἀδέσποτα (Iambica Adespota or Anonymous Iambics), a collection of iambic fragments preserved through quotations in later authors like Stobaeus [1]. The designation of two works likely refers to distinct fragment groups cataloged under this anonymous title.

Significance The fragments are significant for studying the post-classical iambic tradition, demonstrating the genre’s evolution beyond its archaic exponents [2]. They provide evidence for poetic conventions, metrics, and the use of Koine Greek in Hellenistic and Imperial-period poetry, valued for their literary and linguistic features rather than authorial biography [1].

Sources 1. Perseus Digital Library (Tufts University): https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0471 (Catalog of Iambic Poets, listing "Iambica Adespota"). 2. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics (Oxford University Press): https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-3270 (Entry on "Iambic Poetry, Greek," discussing the Hellenistic and later periods).