Simonides of Kea

Simonides of Kea worked first in Athens and then moved to Thessaly.

His work focused on choral lyrics, elegies and epigrams. Some sources state that he was the first Greek to write poetry as well, specifically epinikia, which are celebratory poems on the winners of races.

He became famous as the author of an epitaph describing the heroism of the Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae.

In a poetic race, he is said to have triumphed over Aeschylus.