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Halcyon

Historical Figure
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

Mythical bird associated with calm seas, often symbolizing peace or a bygone golden age

Detailed Definition
Though not historical, Halcyon (from Alcyone) appears in poetry as a metaphor for tranquility, marital devotion, and nature’s harmony. Poets reference her to evoke serenity amid storm, the fragility of peace, and mythic time outside history’s chaos.
Example
Example in poetry:
Halcyon (mythical bird, but sometimes associated with historical calm) – as a historical allusion to the halcyon days of peace: appears in Augustan poetry as a metaphor for tranquil reigns; Poets reference “halcyon days” to evoke golden ages under rulers like Augustus; In Romantic verse, halcyon symbolizes lost peace; Modern poets use halcyon to contrast with wartime; The myth of Alcyone and Ceyx inspires poems on love and metamorphosis; Halcyon becomes shorthand for any era of stability.
Additional Notes
Halcyon refers to the mythical kingfisher bird whose nesting calmed the seas (from Alcyone and Ceyx in Ovid); in poetry, “halcyon” symbolizes peace, tranquility, or a golden age—often used ironically to contrast with present turmoil; the term appears from Shakespeare to modern lyric poetry as a metaphor for lost calm or seasonal respite.
Also Known As
Kingfisher Hal
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