Poetry

Poetry, an art form that merges the aesthetic qualities of language with emotion, has a storied past, likely predating written text. It began as an oral tradition, a method for recounting oral history, genealogy, and law, often intertwined with music. Ancient works from Sumerian priestess Enheduanna to epics like "The Odyssey" illustrate poetry's role in society​​.

The oldest known poems, such as "The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor," date back to around 2500 BCE. Ancient cultures developed "poetics," the study of poetry's aesthetics, to understand what distinguishes good poetry from bad. Poetry's forms and genres have evolved, with African cultures contributing significantly through their oral and performance traditions​​.

Classical thinkers like Aristotle categorized poetry into epic, comic, and tragic, to assess its quality. These classifications influenced literary criticism and were pivotal during the Islamic Golden Age and the European Renaissance​​.

For enthusiasts and experts in art and antiques, poetry represents a deep well of cultural and emotional expression. To explore this heritage further and receive updates on poetic exhibitions and sales, sign up for our dedicated newsletter.