How did Archilochus change ancient Greek poetry?

Archilochus, a poet and soldier from the 7th century BCE, fundamentally transformed ancient Greek poetry by shifting the focus from formulaic, heroic themes to the expression of personal experience and individual emotion. As the earliest known European author to center his work on his own life and feelings, he marked a significant departure from the traditional, impersonal style of his predecessors.1

His contributions to the evolution of Greek verse include:

• Technical Innovation: He was a master of metrical experimentation, serving as the first known Greek poet to utilize the elegiac couplet, as well as various iambic and trochaic meters, epodes, and complex mixed meters known as asinarteta.12
• Linguistic Range: He skillfully blended Homeric formulas with the vernacular language of daily life.1
• Satirical Voice: He became legendary for his sharp satire and ferocious invective, using his poetry to mock enemies with such intensity that, according to tradition, it drove them to suicide.1

By prioritizing the personal voice, Archilochus established a new standard for lyric poetry that influenced generations of later writers, including Horace.1