Seikilos

The Seikilos Epitaph is an ancient Greek song inscribed on a tombstone from around the 1st century BCE. It’s the oldest known complete musical composition from that era, including both lyrics and musical notation. The song’s theme reflects life's fleeting nature, encouraging enjoyment despite life’s transience. It’s written in a simple scale and played on an ancient instrument called the lyre. The inscription serves both as a farewell and a reminder to live fully, making it a unique and valuable link to early classical music and cultural attitudes toward life and mortality.