Hephthemimeres

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Hephthemimeres ( Greek  ἑφθ 'ἡμίσεα μέρη , Latin caesura semiseptinaria "seven half parts", namely half verse feet ) is a caesura in the ancient verse after the seventh half foot of a verse, i.e. in the fourth footer. For example in the hexameter

- ◡◡ .— ◡◡ .— ◡◡ .— ‖  ◡◡ .— ◡◡ .— ×

and in the iambic trimeter :

◡ — .◡ — .◡ — .◡ ‖ —.◡ — .◡—

The Hephthemimeres occurs in the hexameter mostly together with a Trithemimeres after the third half-foot as a secondary caesura, here with | marked:

- ◡◡ .— | ◡◡ .— ◡◡ .— ‖  ◡◡ .— ◡◡ .— ×

So also in this verse from Catullus :

E̱umenide̱s, | quibus a̱nguino̱ ‖ redimi̱ta capi̱llo
—◡◡.— | ◡◡. — ◡◡.— ‖ ◡◡. — ◡◡. — ◡

as well as this replica of the hexameter by Hölderlin :

Yes, of course! | The country of birth is the soil of the home, [...]
—◡.— | ◡◡. — ◡— ‖ ◡ — ◡◡ — ◡

The meter in the German hexameter can be implemented with double abbreviation (◡◡, dactylic ) or short syllable (◡, trochaic ).

Or in Goethe's Reineke Fuchs :

No'bel the king assembles the court; ‖ And his vasles [...]
—◡◡. — ◡◡. — ◡◡— ‖ ◡ — ◡◡ — ◡

literature

Individual evidence

  1. Catullus Carmina 64, 193.
  2. ^ Friedrich Hölderlin: Homecoming . 4th stanza, v. 1. In: (ders.): Complete works. 6 volumes. Vol. 2, Stuttgart 1953, p. 101, online .
  3. Goethe: Reineke Fuchs I, v. 6, online