History Music

Context: The Seikilos epitaph is a complete Ancient Greek song engraved on a funerary stele from the 1st–2nd century AD, making it the oldest fully preserved musical composition with both melody and lyrics intact. Found near modern Aydın in Turkey, it was dedicated by a man named Seikilos, possibly in memory of Euterpe. Its brief poem urges the reader to “shine while you live” and not give in to sorrow, expressing a clear, timeless philosophy on the brevity of life. Because the notation is fully preserved, it offers one of the clearest glimpses into how ancient Mediterranean music actually sounded.