Greek Poems to the Gods
Hymns from Homer to Proclus
by Barry B. Powell
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Pub Date Apr 30 2021 | Archive Date May 12 2021
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Description
The hymn—as poetry, as craft, as a tool for worship and philosophy—was a vital art form throughout antiquity. Although the Homeric Hymns have long been popular, other equally important collections have not been readily accessible to students eager to learn about ancient poetry. In reading hymns, we also gain valuable insight into life in the classical world. In this collection, early Homeric Hymns of uncertain authorship appear along with the carefully wrought hymns of the great Hellenistic poet and courtier Callimachus; the mystical writings attributed to the legendary poet Orpheus, written as Christianity was taking over the ancient world; and finally, the hymns of Proclus, the last great pagan philosopher of antiquity, from the fifth century AD, whose intellectual influence throughout western culture has been profound.
Greek Poems to the Gods distills over a thousand years of the ancient Greek hymnic tradition into a single volume. Acclaimed translator Barry B. Powell brings these fabulous texts to life in English, hewing closely to the poetic beauty of the original Greek. His superb introductions and notes give readers essential context, making the hymns as accessible to a beginner approaching them for the first time as to an advanced student continuing to explore their secrets. Brilliant illustrations from ancient art enliven and enrichen the experience of reading these poems.
Advance Praise
“Once more, Barry B. Powell puts his great translation skills to work and reveals his deep sensitivity to the many layers in these texts. He brings out their epic tone, piety, liveliness, and humor, while his effective introductions and notes round the collection with relevant historical and cultural context.”—Carolina López-Ruiz, Professor of Classics at The Ohio State University
Praise for Barry B. Powell’s previous work
“Lucid and remarkably successful.”—New York Review of Books
“Accessible yet true to the feel and sense of the Greek.”—Library Journal
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9780520302877 |
PRICE | $24.95 (USD) |
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Featured Reviews
We are really excited to recommend this fantastic new translation of Greek poetry by Barry Powell. The poetry is beautiful but also accessible — a tough trick to pull off for Ancient Greek poetry. It’s a really valuable edition, in that it includes in one volume the Homeric hymns alongside the poetry of Callimachus, Proclus and others, organized by the Greek god to whom the hymns are dedicated and with significant introductory analysis and notes. The way it is organized, you get to see in each chapter 1000 years of devotional hymns to each god, so you not only get to appreciate the beautiful poetry but have considerable academic context within which to understand it and see the continuities and evolutions. It’s an impressive volume that we think lovers of poetry and of classical antiquity will appreciate.
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