The Homeric Hymns - Softcover

Athanassakis

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801817927 ISBN 13: 9780801817922

Publisher: John Hopkins University Press, 1976

Synopsis

A rich source for students of Greek mythology and literature, the Homeric hymns are also fine poetry. Attributed by the ancients to Homer, these prooimia, or preludes, were actually composed over centuries and used by poets to prepare for the singing or recitation of longer portions of the Homeric epics. In his acclaimed translations of the hymns, Apostolos Athanassakis preserves the essential simplicity of the original Greek, offering a straightforward, line-by-line translation that makes no attempts to masquerade or modernize. For this long-awaited new edition, Athanassakis enhances his classic work with a comprehensive index, careful and selective changes in the translations themselves, and numerous additions to the notes which will enrich the reader's experience of these ancient and influential poems.

About this title

Review

"The 'Homeric' Hymns are a rich source for students of Greek religion, mythology, and thought; they are also fine poetry. Because this translation is stately, graceful, and close to the original, it will serve its readers' purposes well." -- Library Journal

"Professor Athanassakis' new translation of the Hymns is very welcome. It is clearly intended for the use of students in courses in Greek mythology and religion, and includes a short but useful general introduction and separate notes to each Hymn... Athanassakis' translation is acceptable, and his commentary is very useful for its sound traditional scholarship and acquaintance with modern Greek folklore which he alone can contribute." -- Mark W. Edwards, Queen's Quarterly

"It is a book obviously produced by a classical scholar and meant for an informed audience... The translations present clear, smooth, and occasionally stately narrative. The translator displays a knack for selecting colorful and appropriate English words to match the Greek." -- The Classical Outlook

Book Description

A course paperback bestseller -- more than 75,000 copies in print

Edition details

• Publisher: John Hopkins University Press
• Publication date: 1976
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801817927
• ISBN 13: 9780801817922
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128