Life Mimnermus was an elegiac poet from the Ionian city of Colophon in Asia Minor, active in the 7th century BCE, likely around 630–600 BCE [1][2][3]. Ancient testimony, including from Herodotus, suggests he was a contemporary of the Lydian king Alyattes [1][2]. He is sometimes associated with Smyrna, a city Colophon helped establish.

Works His poetry survives only in fragments. His most famous collection was the Nanno (Ναννώ), named after a flute-girl he loved [1][2][3]. He also composed the Smyrneis (Σμυρνῇς), a historical elegy recounting the war between Smyrna and the Lydians, which is an early example of historical narrative in elegiac verse [1][2].

Significance Mimnermus is a key figure in archaic Greek elegy, noted for his focus on youth, love, and the brevity of life, themes that influenced later poets [1][2][3]. His melancholic treatment of aging and mortality became characteristic. The Smyrneis represents an important early fusion of elegy with historical narrative [2].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mimnermus 2. Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0004:entry=mimnermus 3. World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org/Mimnermus/