The Homeric Hymn to Demeter

by N.N. Richardson (Editor)

English, Greek

Genres: Classics, Poetry, Mythology

380 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 651

Reviews

[Liquidlasagna]

"Offers an incomparable approach to understanding archaic Greek poetry and religion....Richardson shows a good knowledge of the archeological and artistic evidence and a sure control of the relevant comparative material both from Greece and the Near East. The result is the best presentation of the Eleusinian cult available...this book is a treasure, well worth its cost."

Athenaeum

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at $180 it's a steal
at $220 it's a ripoff!

[max]

If my wife ever finds out how much I spent on this book, she will divorce me! Certain academic books are frightfully pricey, and this is certainly one of them. And yet I could not resist. In teaching this delightful work of Greek literature to an advanced class (fall 2011), I desperately needed the assistance of a learned commentary, since the Hymn to Demeter is such a fascinating text with many issues that call for critical elucidation.

The Homeric Hymns were not written by Homer -- i.e. not by whoever it was who composed the Iliad and the Odyssey. This particular critical edition points out words found nowhere in Homer and also discusses the manner in which the author of the hymn employs unusual variations on Hesiodic or Homeric formulae. Also, there are numerous textual problems with the principal manuscript, which was found in a stable in Moscow in the late 1700's. Here again, Richardson helpfully discusses these textual problems and suggests solutions. Finally, the poem's connection with the Eleusinian mysteries is especially important, and this aspect of the poem is amply addressed in this edition.

This book is the sine qua non for serious work on the Hymn to Demeter.

[Eden]

Best myth hands down

[Lexi Muhlenbeck]

Entertaining little story.

[Odessa]

This commentary is what classicist's dream of.

[Andrew Price]

Interesting to see devotional works to pagan gods.