metría

Metría refers to a specific type of poetic meter, particularly prevalent in classical Greek and Latin poetry. It is not a single, fixed rhythm but rather a system of organizing verse based on patterns of long and short syllables. The fundamental unit of métria is the foot, which is a combination of two or three syllables. Common feet include the iamb (short-long), trochee (long-short), spondee (long-long), dactyl (long-short-short), and anapest (short-short-long).

The arrangement of these feet within a line creates different meters. For instance, an iambic pentameter consists of five iambic feet. In classical poetry, the quantity of syllables (whether they are long or short) was determined by their inherent length, not by stress as in modern English poetry. This quantitative meter, métria, allowed for a wide range of complex and varied rhythmic structures. The study and analysis of these patterns are crucial for understanding the prosody and aesthetic qualities of ancient verse. While the term métria is most strongly associated with classical traditions, the concept of organizing verse by syllable length has influenced poetic traditions in various cultures.