I nemici del silenzio: «bocche senza porta» e altri ciarlatori nella poesia greca arcaica e classica

In archaic and classical Greek poetry the inability to hold one’s tongue and keep silence is a negative value that has repeatedly been criticized. Chattering has dire consequences on both personal and social level. Such an idea is embodied in mythical characters (e.g. Thersites) and in a number of stories, but also in peculiar lexicon, vivid images and metaphors from Homer to lyric poetry (especially Simonides) to theatre.