Homeric Hymns

by Athanassakis, Apostolos N.; Athanassakis, Apostolos N.; Athanassakis, Apostolos N.

• ISBN13: 9780801879838
• ISBN10: 0801879833
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-06-28
• Publisher: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV PR

Summary

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.

Author Biography

Apostolos N. Athanassakis holds the James and Sarah Argyropoulos Chair in Hellenic Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Among his many translations is Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days, Shield, also available from Johns Hopkins.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	xiii
Fragments of the Hymn to Dionysos	1	(1)
To Demeter	1	(13)
To Apollon	14	(14)
To Hermes	28	(14)
To Aphrodite	42	(8)
To Aphrodite	50	(1)
To Dionysos	50	(2)
To Ares	52	(1)
To Artemis	52	(1)
To Aphrodite	53	(1)
To Athena	53	(1)
To Hera	53	(1)
To Demeter	53	(1)
To the Mother of the Gods	54	(1)
To Lion-Hearted Herakles	54	(1)
To Asklepios	54	(1)
To the Dioskouroi	54	(1)
To Hermes	55	(1)
To Pan	55	(1)
To Hephaistos	56	(1)
To Apollon	57	(1)
To Poseidon	57	(1)
To Zeus	57	(1)
To Hestia	57	(1)
To the Muses and Apollon	57	(1)
To Dionysos	58	(1)
To Artemis	58	(1)
To Athena	59	(1)
To Hestia	59	(1)
To Earth, Mother of All	60	(1)
To Helios	60	(1)
To Selene	61	(1)
To the Dioskouroi	62	(1)
To Guest-Friends	62	(1)
Notes	63	(30)
Select Bibliography	93	(4)
Index	97