klitikos

Klitikos is a term derived from the Greek language, meaning "little key" or "small key." It is often used in the context of ancient Greek music and philosophy to describe a minor mode or a specific type of musical interval. In ancient Greek music, the klitikos was one of the three modes used in the modal system, along with the hypodorian and hypophrygian. It is characterized by its unique interval structure, which includes a minor second, major second, minor third, major third, perfect fourth, and minor sixth.

The klitikos mode is also associated with the concept of the "little key" in ancient Greek philosophy, particularly in the works of Plato. In Plato's "Republic," the klitikos is used as a metaphor for the soul's journey towards wisdom and virtue. The soul, like a musician, must navigate through different modes, or states of being, to reach the ultimate goal of wisdom, represented by the "great key" or the "great mode."

In modern times, the term klitikos has been used in various contexts, including music theory, philosophy, and even in the study of ancient Greek literature. Its significance lies in its ability to represent the idea of a small, incremental step towards a larger goal, much like the minor intervals in the musical mode.