Items related to The Idylls
Synopsis
Theocritus lived in the age called Hellenistic, following the conquests of Alexander the Great, which greatly increased the ascendancy of Greek culture. Both his poetry and what we can infer from it about his life display the cosmopolitanism that the widespread empire and its successors encouraged: he appears to have been familiar with at least Sicily, Miletus, Cos (an island near Anatolia), Athens and Alexandria, the two cultural capitals of the Greek world. Though best known to literary historians as the initiator of the pastoral strain in poetry, that is, stylized representations of country folk, especially as they experience sexual desire, his Idylls go well beyond that subject matter to deal with city folk, fishermen, urban boy-love, heroes and demigods such as Herakles and the Dióskouroui, Helen of Troy, mythical figures like the Cyklops Polyphémos, and his royal patrons, Híeron II of Syracuse and Ptólemy II of Egypt. Also extant in the Greek Anthology are some epigrams attributed to him. Commentators doubt the authenticity of several poems, but they were regarded as his in antiquity, so they have remained in the collection. I have also included a perhaps later poem, Mégara, because like some idylls it extends the story of Herakles. They are all immensely enjoyable, especially when read aloud, even enacted, as they well may have been in ancient times. As I have used English versions of the musical ancient meters—mainly the dactylic hexameter derived from Homeric epic—their music resounds best in a viva voce reading. I have also provided notes to help readers not versed in ancient culture understand literary and historical contexts and allusions and to suggest interpretations as starting points for thinking about the poems.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Rodney Merrill has published translations of the Homeric Iliad and Odyssey, The Oresteia of Aeschylus, The Argonautika of Apollonios Rhodios, and Dyskolos: The Curmudgeon, by Menander. Yet to come are translations of selected Homeric Hymns and the Complete Works of Virgil, among others. These are all in English versions of the original meters, so that readers can participate in the musical dimension so important to the total experience of these works, most of which were produced for oral performance. He has also recorded his recitation of the Odyssey, which is available as a podcast at anchor.fm/merrill-odyssey.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Search results for The Idylls
Stock Image
The Idylls
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 44278367
Stock Image
The Idylls
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 44278367-n
Stock Image
The Idylls
Seller: California Books, Miami, FL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # I-9781794725706
Stock Image
The Idylls
Print on DemandSeller: PBShop.store US, Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # L0-9781794725706
Stock Image
The Idylls
Print on DemandSeller: PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Delivered from our UK warehouse in 4 to 14 business days. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # L0-9781794725706
Buy New
US$ 19.50
US$ 5.62 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: Over 20 available
Stock Image
The Idylls
Seller: Ria Christie Collections, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. In. Seller Inventory # ria9781794725706_new
Buy New
US$ 19.75
US$ 16.19 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: Over 20 available
Stock Image
The Idylls
Print on DemandSeller: THE SAINT BOOKSTORE, Southport, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback / softback. Condition: New. This item is printed on demand. New copy - Usually dispatched within 5-9 working days. Seller Inventory # C9781794725706
Buy New
US$ 20.98
US$ 16.58 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: Over 20 available
Stock Image
The Idylls
Seller: GreatBookPricesUK, Woodford Green, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 44278367-n
Buy New
US$ 19.49
US$ 20.27 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: Over 20 available
Stock Image
The Idylls
Seller: GreatBookPricesUK, Woodford Green, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 44278367
Buy Used
US$ 20.45
US$ 20.27 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: Over 20 available
Seller Image
The Idylls
Print on DemandSeller: AHA-BUCH GmbH, Einbeck, Germany
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Taschenbuch. Condition: Neu. nach der Bestellung gedruckt Neuware - Printed after ordering - Theocritus lived in the age called Hellenistic, following the conquests of Alexander the Great, which greatly increased the ascendancy of Greek culture. Both his poetry and what we can infer from it about his life display the cosmopolitanism that the widespread empire and its successors encouraged: he appears to have been familiar with at least Sicily, Miletus, Cos (an island near Anatolia), Athens and Alexandria, the two cultural capitals of the Greek world. Though best known to literary historians as the initiator of the pastoral strain in poetry, that is, stylized representations of country folk, especially as they experience sexual desire, his Idylls go well beyond that subject matter to deal with city folk, fishermen, urban boy-love, heroes and demigods such as Herakles and the Dióskouroui, Helen of Troy, mythical figures like the Cyklops Polyphémos, and his royal patrons, Híeron II of Syracuse and Ptólemy II of Egypt. Also extant in the Greek Anthology are some epigrams attributed to him. Commentators doubt the authenticity of several poems, but they were regarded as his in antiquity, so they have remained in the collection. I have also included a perhaps later poem, Mégara, because like some idylls it extends the story of Herakles. They are all immensely enjoyable, especially when read aloud, even enacted, as they well may have been in ancient times. As I have used English versions of the musical ancient meters-mainly the dactylic hexameter derived from Homeric epic-their music resounds best in a viva voce reading. I have also provided notes to help readers not versed in ancient culture understand literary and historical contexts and allusions and to suggest interpretations as starting points for thinking about the poems. Seller Inventory # 9781794725706
Buy New
US$ 30.86
US$ 35.42 shipping
Ships from Germany to U.S.A.
Ships from Germany to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available