THE HOMERIC HYMNS; Translation, Introduction and Notes

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.

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.