Greek Poems to the Gods - by Barry B Powell

Book Synopsis

The ancient Greek hymnic tradition translated beautifully and accessibly.

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.

From the Back Cover

"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

"One is immediately struck by how useful these editions of Homer will be for university instructors."--The Classical Review

"Lucid and remarkably successful."--The New York Review of Books

"Accessible yet true to the feel and sense of the Greek."--Library Journal

"An ample, lively, readable fusion of summary and translation makes it attractive to teachers...looking for something different."--The Classical World

Review Quotes

"This is a useful volume for the study of ancient Greek culture and, with its wealth of mythological and geographical lore, could be an illuminating companion to a tour of Greek sites and museums."-- "Religious Studies Review"

"A gem of a book. . . . Powell, who wears his learning as lightly as seersucker . . . is always sensitive to the Greek, and brings it across into clear, natural English, at the pitch-perfect register for the solemn or the ludic hymn."-- "Spectator"

"An impressive volume that we think lovers of poetry and of classical antiquity will appreciate."-- "Coffee with the Poets"

About the Author

Barry B. Powell is Halls-Bascom Professor of Classics Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of Classical Myth, Homer and the Origin of the Greek Alphabet, Writing and the Origins of Greek Literature; and translations of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid; and many other books.