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Galliambic

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An ancient Greek meter of irregular, ecstatic rhythm used in hymns to Cybele, marked by syncopation and emotional frenzy.

Detailed Definition
Galliambic verse is a rare, ecstatic meter derived from ancient Greek hymns to Cybele, characterized by rapid, irregular rhythms combining ionic and trochaic elements; it conveys frenzied emotion or ritual intensity, famously used by Catullus in Poem 63 to depict the self-castration of Attis in a surge of divine madness.
Example
Example in poetry:
Catullus 63 uses galliambic meter for Cybele’s frenzied rites; Rhythmic pattern: dactyl-dactyl-spondee-dactyl; Modern attempt: “Wild drum, wild drum, tear the sky open!”; Rare, ecstatic meter for ritual poetry
Additional Notes
Ancient meter associated with Cybele worship. Frenzied, rapid rhythm. Catullus's Attis poem famous example. Related: classical meters, ritual verse. Study: how meter enacts religious frenzy.
Also Known As
Galliambic meter frenzied verse
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