Homeric Hymns: A Translation, with Introduction and Notes (Joan Palevsky Imprint in Classical Literature) - Softcover

Rayor, Diane J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0520282116 ISBN 13: 9780520282117

Verlag: University of California Press, 2014

Inhaltsangabe

The Homeric Hymns have survived for two and a half millennia because of their captivating stories, beautiful language, and religious significance. Well before the advent of writing in Greece, they were performed by traveling bards at religious events, competitions, banquets, and festivals. These thirty-four poems invoking and celebrating the gods of ancient Greece raise questions that humanity still struggles with—questions about our place among others and in the world.

Known as “Homeric” because they were composed in the same meter, dialect, and style as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, these hymns were created to be sung aloud. In this superb translation by Diane J. Rayor, which deftly combines accuracy and poetry, the ancient music of the hymns comes alive for the modern reader. Here is the birth of Apollo, god of prophecy, healing, and music and founder of Delphi, the most famous oracular shrine in ancient Greece. Here is Zeus, inflicting upon Aphrodite her own mighty power to cause gods to mate with humans, and here is Demeter rescuing her daughter Persephone from the underworld and initiating the rites of the Eleusinian Mysteries.

This updated edition incorporates twenty-eight new lines in the first Hymn to Dionysos, along with expanded notes, a new preface, and an enhanced bibliography. With her introduction and notes, Rayor places the hymns in their historical and aesthetic context, providing the information needed to read, interpret, and fully appreciate these literary windows on an ancient world. As introductions to the Greek gods, entrancing stories, exquisite poetry, and early literary records of key religious rituals and sites, the Homeric Hymns should be read by any student of mythology, classical literature, ancient religion, women in antiquity, or the Greek language.

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Diane J. Rayor is Professor of Classics at Grand Valley State University, Michigan, in the department she helped found. In 2011, she received the prestigious Glenn A. Niemeyer Outstanding Faculty Award for excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. Her translations of ancient Greek poetry and drama include Euripides’ “Medea”; Sophocles’ “Antigone”; Sappho's Lyre: Archaic Lyric and Women Poets of Ancient Greece; and, with Stanley Lombardo, Callimachus. She also edited, with William Batstone, Latin Lyric and Elegiac Poetry.

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“Rayor’s book is superb and appeals to all who are interested in classical literature, mythology, and related subjects. It displays the translator’s art at its best and is highly suitable for classroom use. Those wishing to pursue the Hymns in greater depth will find the select bibliography a useful source of current scholarship on the subject. Rayor is to be congratulated for a job well done.”—Classical Outlook

"This translation beautifully captures the style of the Homeric Hymns, at once pictorial and flowing. With an art that conceals art, Rayor finds the right euphonious language: accurate, vibrant without calling attention to itself, varied in tone, and natural. It is a delight to read."—Eva Stehle, author of Performance and Gender in Ancient Greece

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Rayor s book is superb and appeals to all who are interested in classical literature, mythology, and related subjects. It displays the translator s art at its best and is highly suitable for classroom use. Those wishing to pursue the Hymns in greater depth will find the select bibliography a useful source of current scholarship on the subject. Rayor is to be congratulated for a job well done. Classical Outlook

"This translation beautifully captures the style of the Homeric Hymns, at once pictorial and flowing. With an art that conceals art, Rayor finds the right euphonious language: accurate, vibrant without calling attention to itself, varied in tone, and natural. It is a delight to read." Eva Stehle, author of Performance and Gender in Ancient Greece

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The Homeric Hymns

A Translation, with Introduction and Notes

By Diane J. Rayor

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS

Copyright © 2014 The Regents of the University of California
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-520-28211-7

Contents

Preface, 
Acknowledgment, 
Map, 
Introduction, 
1. Dionysos, 
2. Demeter, 
3. Apollo, 
4. Hermes, 
5. Aphrodite, 
6. Aphrodite, 
7. Dionysos, 
8. Ares, 
9. Artemis, 
10. Aphrodite, 
11. Athena, 
12. Hera, 
13. Demeter, 
14. Mother of the Gods, 
15. Herakles, 
16. Asklepios, 
17. Dioskouroi, 
18. Hermes, 
19. Pan, 
20. Hephaistos, 
21. Apollo, 
22. Poseidon, 
23. Zeus, 
24. Hestia, 
25. The Muses, Apollo, and Zeus, 
26. Dionysos, 
27. Artemis, 
28. Athena, 
29. Hestia and Hermes, 
30. Gaia, 
31. Helios, 
32. Selene, 
33. Dioskouroi, 
34. Xenoi, 
Notes, 
Select Bibliography, 
Glossary, 

CHAPTER 1

HYMN TO DIONYSOS

Some say in Drakanos, others in windy Ikaros, still others say in Naxos, O Bullgod son of Zeus, or there by the deep-eddying river Alpheos, pregnant Semele bore you to thunder-loving Zeus.

Others say you were born in Thebes, Lord, but all of them lie: the father of men and gods gave birth to you far from people, hidden from white-armed Hera.

Nysa is the place, a mighty peak blooming with woods, far from Phoenicia, near the river Nile. None of the human race sails there, with no harbor for their curved ships, for a high, steep cliff encircles it. Yet it grows many lovely delicacies ... [missing lines] [Vines] lush with their clusters of dark grapes ... [missing lines] [Zeus to Hera:] "... you wish. How could you suffer more shamefully? I too acted foolishly.... Hephaistos left on his own.... as they assume forever ... He tricked you, binding you in chains from Tartaros.

Who, my dear, can free you? A painful belt wraps around your body, while Hephaistos pays no mind to command or plea, but devises firm resolve in his heart. Sister, you bore a cruel son.... crafty though lame.... before his feet ... good.... he rages.... angry ... Let us see if he will soften his iron heart at all.

Two smart sons of mine are handy30to help in your troubles—Ares is one, who wields a sharp spear, a tough fighter ... And there is Dionysos ... But Hephaistos better not start a contest with me or he will stagger away struck by my lightning.... sweet.... this boy of mine ... [missing lines] People will raise many statues in his temples. Since there are three ..., every third year humans will always sacrifice a hundred perfect bulls."

So spoke the son of Kronos nodding his dark-blue brows—the king's divine hair swirled about his immortal head, as he shook great Olympos.

With those words, wise Zeus nodded his command.

Be gracious, Bullgod, maker of maenads. We bards sing of you first and last; there is no way to forget you and still remember holy song. O Dionysos, Bullgod son of Zeus, rejoice with your mother Semele, whom some call Thyone.

CHAPTER 2

HYMN TO DEMETER

I sing of the revered goddess, rich-haired Demeter, and her slim-ankled daughter, whom Hades snatched (far-seeing, thundering Zeus gave her away) while she and Ocean's deep-breasted daughters played, far from golden blade Demeter, who bears shining fruit. She picked lush meadow flowers: roses, crocuses, lovely violets, irises, hyacinths—and a narcissus Gaia grew as a lure for the blossoming girl, following Zeus' bidding, to please Lord of the Dead.

Everyone marveled at the bewitching sight, immortal gods and mortal folk alike: from its root blossomed a hundred sweetly scented heads, and all wide heaven above, all earth, and the salty swell of the sea laughed.

Amazed, she stretched out both hands to pick the charming bloom—and a chasm opened in the Nysian plain. Out sprang Lord of the Dead, god of many names, on his immortal horses.

Snatching the unwilling girl, he carried her off in his golden chariot, as she cried and screamed aloud calling to her father, son of Kronos, highest and best.

None of the immortal gods or mortal folk heard her cry, nor the Olives shining with fruit—except the daughter of Perses, tender-hearted Hekate, veiled in light, heard from her cave and Lord Helios, Hyperion's shining son, heard the girl calling to her father, son of Kronos.

Zeus sat far away from the gods, in his temple echoing with prayers, accepting rich offerings from mortals. But her father's brother, Kronos' son of many names, Lord of the Many Dead, stole the unwilling girl away on his immortal horses, with a nod from Zeus.

While the goddess could still gaze at earth and starry heaven, strong rush of the fish-abundant sea and sun's rays, she still hoped to see her dear mother and the race of gods who live forever: hope yet charmed her strong mind though she grieved. The mountain peaks and the sea depths echoed with her eternal cry, and her goddess mother heard her. Sharp grief seized her heart; with both hands she tore the veil from her ambrosial hair, threw a black cloak across her shoulders and sped like a bird over the nourishing land and sea, searching: but none of the immortal gods or mortal folk would tell her the truth, nor did omen birds bring true messages.

Nine days Queen Deo wandered the earth, blazing torches in her hands, nor did she eat ambrosia or sip sweet nectar once while grieving, or wash her skin clean.

When shining Dawn arose on the tenth day, Hekate met her with torches in her own hands and drew close, speaking these words:

"Queen Demeter, who brings seasons, bears shining fruit, which one of the heavenly gods or mortal folk seized Persephone and grieved your spirit?

I heard her cry, but with my own eyes did not see who did it. I am telling you the whole truth." Hekate asked, but the daughter of rich-haired Rhea did not wait to reply. Quickly she rushed away, blazing torches in her hands, Hekate at her side.

They came to Helios, who watches gods and mortals, and stood before his horses. The heavenly goddess said: "Helios, respect me as a goddess, if ever before with words or deeds I cheered your heart and soul.

The girl I bore, a sweet blossom, a joy to see, I heard her screams through the barren air as if she was taken by force, but I did not see her. Yet you gaze through the bright air with your rays over the whole wide earth and sea:

Tell me truly of my dear child, if you saw who stole her away from me, against her will, and is gone, what god or mortal man?"

She asked and Hyperion's son answered back: "Queen Demeter, daughter of rich-haired Rhea, you will know: I do greatly respect you and pity your grief over your slim-ankled child. No other god arranged it but cloud-gathering Zeus, who gave her to his own brother Hades to be called his budding wife. He carried her off on his horses into the misty darkness while she screamed aloud.

But, Goddess, give up your strong grief; let go of your infinite anger. Hades is not an unsuitable son-in-law among the gods: Lord of the Many Dead, your own brother from the same seed. As for honor, he won the third share when the division was made and lives as king among those in his allotted land."

After speaking, Helios called to his horses, who at his shout bore the swift chariot quickly like long-winged birds.

But a grief more dread and more bitter came over her. Then, furious at Zeus who darkens clouds, she...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: University of California Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2014
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0520282116
• ISBN 13: 9780520282117
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Auflage: 1
• Anzahl der Seiten: 192
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar