Description
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.Reviews
"There exists no modern, readable translation done with scholarly notes to help the reader see all the historical, religious, cultic, and cultural significance of the hymns for ancient Greece. The author succeeds admirably in reaching this goal."—Joseph Russo, Haverford College, reviewing a previous edition or volume"Stately, graceful, and close to the original, this translation will serve its readers' purposes well."—Library Journal , reviewing a previous edition or volume "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 , reviewing a previous edition or volume "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."—Classical Outlook , reviewing a previous edition or volume "More than any other translation, this one makes these ancient poems seem familiar without eroding our sense of them as profoundly archaic and foreign."—Parnassus: Poetry in Review
Author Information
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.
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