Three Homeric Hymns
To Apollo, Hermes, and Aphrodite

This book is specifically designed for upper-level students of these major narrative works of early Greek poetry.

Nicholas Richardson (Author)

9780521457743, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 22 April 2010

290 pages, 1 b/w illus.
21.6 x 13.8 x 1.3 cm, 0.4 kg

'We are all grateful to [Richardson] for making this excellent resource available, one that renders these delightful poems accessible to instructors and students alike and communicates both their cultural significance and their charm.' Hermathena

These lively narrative poems, attributed in antiquity to Homer, are works of great charm. Composed for recitation at festivals in honour of the gods, they tell of Apollo's birth on the island of Delos and his foundation of the Delphic oracle; Hermes' invention of the lyre and theft of his brother Apollo's cattle; and Aphrodite's love affair with the mortal Anchises. This edition offers a new text of these poems. The Introduction discusses among other things the nature and purpose of the poems in general, their origins, their structure and themes. The Commentary brings out the individual character of each Hymn, by analyzing in depth its language and literary qualities, and also its religious and historical aspects. The aim is to make these Hymns more accessible to students of Greek literature, and help them to appreciate the poems more fully as major works of early Greek poetry.

Introduction
1. The Homeric Hymns
2. Hymn to Apollo
3. Hymn to Hermes
4. Hymn to Aphrodite
5. The Homeric Hymns and Hellenistic poetry
6. Transmission of the text
Sigla
Text
Commentary
Bibliography
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]