Topic summary
Aeolic base
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Aeolic verse.
Essential features and origin
- Verses consist of a fixed number of syllables (thus, for example, no resolution, contraction, or biceps elements).
- Consecutive anceps syllables may occur, especially at the beginning of the verse (where two initial anceps syllables are called the aeolic base). (This forms an exception to the principle, otherwise observed in Greek verse, that two successive unmarked elements are not permitted. Lines beginning with multiple anceps syllables are also exceptional in not being classifiable as having rising or falling rhythm.)