Idilli e Epigrammi

by Theocritus

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Genres: Poetry, Classics

489 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1892

About the author

Theocritus (Greek: Θεόκριτος; born c. 300 BC, died after 260 BC) was a Greek poet from Sicily, Magna Graecia, and the creator of Ancient Greek pastoral poetry.

Reviews

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ci sono dei passaggi estremamente poetici, ma nel complesso non sono proprio entusiasta, comunque sono contenta di aver conosciuto anche questo autore.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daryl Hine translation

[Kevin Yee]

Idylls: (tr. J.M. Edmonds)

[Nicolas Shump]

The version of The Idylls by Theocritus I read was a translation by Daryl Hine, though I cannot speak to the accuracy of the translation from the ancient Greek. Hine is somewhat chippy about other translators however.
This work is much more bawdy and erotic than I expected. Very homoerotic 'pastoral' poems that make me look at Richard Rodriguez's use "the pastoral" in a different light. I'm also reminded of Ginsburg on occasion and even hip hop, because often there is a contest of sorts between two shepherd/poets. The language is not ornamental, but rather plain like the work of Hesiod. I don't see much of the bucolic trope of later pastoral poets like Virgil or Milton. Nevertheless there is a strong undercurrent of desire in these poems.

[Riccardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Non ti vantare; in un soffio, come un sogno ti passa accanto la giovinezza".