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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.
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 700
I shall remember,But this excerpt is unique here. There is really nothing else in this collection that feels quote so ancient and bare as these first several lines to Apollo.
may I not forget,
Apollo the archer.
The gods tremble at him
when he enters the house of Zeus,
they spring up when he comes near them,
they all spring up from their seats
when he stretches back his bow.
Only Leto waits beside Zeus who loves the thunder
She unstrings the bow, she closes the quiver,
taking it off his hands
off his strong shoulders,
...