Increase of complexity from classical Greek to Latin poetry

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method using symbolic time series and Renyi entropy to analyze how rhythmic complexity increased from classical Greek to Latin poetry, revealing evolving patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach combining symbolic time series and information theory to quantify rhythmic complexity in classical poetry.

Findings

Rhythmic patterns become more complex from Greek to Latin poetry.

Renyi entropy effectively captures the evolution of poetic rhythm.

The method provides new insights into the structural differences between Greek and Latin verse.

Abstract

In this paper we develop a method to analyze the increase of complexity from classical Greek poetry to classical Latin poetry by mapping large samples of those poetry onto a symbolic time series. This mapping setup intends characterize regular succession of rhythms, that is, the patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables in a verse. Using techniques from information theory, more precisely, certain Renyi entropy we show how the rhythmical patterns in Greek poetry evolve to more complex behavior in Latin poetry. Some interesting results are reported.