Alexandrian Pleiad


The Alexandrian Pleiad is the name given to a group of seven Alexandrian poets and tragedians in the 3rd century BC working in the court of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The name derives from the seven stars of the Pleiades star cluster.
There are several conflicting lists of the greatest poets of the Alexandrian age, which include the "Alexandrian Pleiad", some with tragic poets, other which include lyric or epic poets. The following members are usually always included in the "Alexandrian Pleiad":
The other members are variously:
The name "Pléiade" was adopted in 1323 by a group of fourteen poets in Toulouse and is used as well to refer to the group of poets around Pierre de Ronsard and Joachim du Bellay in France in the 16th century. In modern times, "pleiad" is also used as a collective noun for a small group of brilliant or eminent persons.