Der Ring des Polykrates (poem)

Abstract of Musen-Almanach für das Jahr 1798, Cotta, 1797

Polycrates' Ring (German: Der Ring des Polykrates) is a lyrical ballad written in June 1797 by Friedrich Schiller and first published in his 1798 Musen-Almanach annual. It is about how the greatest success gives reason to fear disaster. Schiller relied on the accounts of the fate of Polycrates, tyrant of Samos, in Herodotus' Histories, Book III.

Synopsis

The ballad is set at the court of Polycrates, where he is visited by Pharaoh Amasis II. Polycrates boasts of his victories while Aamsis reminds him of the instability of fortune and prosperity, fearing the divine punishment carried by hubris. All the pharaoh's premonitions soon prove to be erroneous, which only leads him to assume the worst. He advises Polycrates to throw away whatever he valued most in order to escape a reversal of fortune. Polycrates, pondering, follows the advice and threws his most valuable ring into the sea. The next day, a fisherman offers him a large fish and Polycrates' cook discovers the ring inside of it. Amasis, horrified, breaks off their friendship and leaves him right away.

Musiscal setting

A comic parody of the ballad by the Austrian playwright Heinrich Teweles (1856–1927) became the libretto of the Korngold opera Der Ring des Polykrates, written in 1913/14.

Works by Friedrich Schiller

Plays	The Robbers Semele Fiesco Intrigue and Love Körners Vormittag Don Carlos Wallenstein Wallenstein's Camp The Piccolomini Wallenstein's Death Mary Stuart The Maid of Orleans The Bride of Messina William Tell Die Huldigung der Künste Demetrius

Selected poems	Ode to Joy Resignation Die Götter Griechenlandes Das verschleierte Bild zu Sais Die Teilung der Erde Xenien Der Handschuh Der Taucher Die Kraniche des Ibykus Ritter Toggenburg Der Gang nach dem Eisenhammer Der Ring des Polykrates Der Kampf mit dem Drachen Die Bürgschaft Das Lied von der Glocke Nänie Der Antritt des neuen Jahrhunderts Das Siegesfest

Selected prose works	Der Verbrecher aus verlorener Ehre Der Geisterseher Eine großmütige Handlung

Selected philosophical works	Die Schaubühne als eine moralische Anstalt betrachtet Über den Grund des Vergnügens an tragischen Gegenständen Augustenburger Briefe Über Anmut und Würde Über das Pathetische Kallias-Briefe Über die ästhetische Erziehung des Menschen Über naive und sentimentalische Dichtung Über das Erhabene

Historical works	Was heißt und zu welchem Ende studiert man Universalgeschichte?

Journals	Wirtembergisches Repertorium Thalia Die Horen

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Der Ring des Polykrates (poem)

Synopsis

Musiscal setting

See also