Impersonation of Voice in Callimachus' Hymn to Apollo

Towards the end of the Delian section of the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, as the climactic event in his description of the great Ionian festival, the blind singer of Chios presents what he calls "a great wonder, whose fame shall never perish" (gFya Oaxi4cx, oov KiXoq otirot' 0,itcct, 156). This "wonder" is the chorus of Delian maidens, who sing hymns to Apollo, Leto and Artemis, followed by songs about "men and women of old." What is truly wondrous about their performance, however, is their ability "to mimic the voices and sounds of all men. Each man," claims the poet, "would say that he himself is speaking. So closely fitted [i.e. in its verisimilitude] is their beautiful song" (ir6vtcov 6' 6vOpJnow pov , KiCc KpOCtXixa1(Tv / ugiaTO' w'aTCvI (Pal i? K?V CMTo', ?caastocC / (pOPyyaO' * ov6 oa(pqv Kcaxi GUv6pip?v aot&qj, 162164).1 The Deliades' simulation is certainly an awe-inspiring feat. How, one might ask, could an individual listener find his voice reflected in the collective voice of the chorus, and a speaking voice, moreover, in a singing voice? Further, how could a multitude of listeners each think that he was speaking when the chorus sang its song?

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