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zalkacs's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
dee9401's review against another edition
4.0
A fun and fast read that has found a place on my reference shelf for future use. I loved reading the summaries of the astronomical myths by Eratosthenes, the 3rd director of the Great Library at Alexandria. Sadly, his writings are lost, but two sets of summaries of his work survive and give us insight into the myths surrounding the constellations. Hyginus also wrote on astronomy and myths, using Eratosthenes as his primary source but also drawing from other places. The introduction was great, as they often are in these Oxford World's Classics editions.
One neat fact regarding one of my favorite constellations, Orion, talks about its relationship with the constellation Scorpios. "Since the Scorpion rises as Orion sets, it could be imagined that Orion is being pursued by it, and it was this thought that inspired the myth in which he was said to have been killed by a huge scorpion, which was sent against him by Earth or perhaps by Artemis" (p. xii). This process was called catasterism, by which people or things were set in the sky as constellations (p. xii).
Another neat technique described was using the twelve constellations of the zodiac to determine how much time has elapsed at night. "For since six signs of the zodiac rise each night, and six set irrespective of the time of year, this enables the observer to form an accurate estimate of the stages of the night" (p. xxii).
The book also covers the five planets the Greek knew that they thought of as wandering stars. Their name derivations are so cool. The Brilliant (Phainon) was said to be Zeus (Jupiter to the Romans). The second was The Radiant (Phaethon) and it takes its name from Helios or Cronos (Saturn). The third was Ares (Mars), the fourth Aphrodite (Venus) and lastly, Hermes (Mercury) (pp. 130-132).
The Milky Way has its own amazing origin mythology. It was called Galaxia (the milky circle). "It was not possible for sons of Zeus to have any share in the honours of the sky unless they had been suckled at Hera's breast; and that is why Hermes, so they say, brought Heracles along after his birth and placed him at Hera's breast, for him to be suckled at it; but when Hera became aware of it, she thrust him away, and the rest of her milk spilled out accordingly to make up the milky circle" (p. 133).
One neat fact regarding one of my favorite constellations, Orion, talks about its relationship with the constellation Scorpios. "Since the Scorpion rises as Orion sets, it could be imagined that Orion is being pursued by it, and it was this thought that inspired the myth in which he was said to have been killed by a huge scorpion, which was sent against him by Earth or perhaps by Artemis" (p. xii). This process was called catasterism, by which people or things were set in the sky as constellations (p. xii).
Another neat technique described was using the twelve constellations of the zodiac to determine how much time has elapsed at night. "For since six signs of the zodiac rise each night, and six set irrespective of the time of year, this enables the observer to form an accurate estimate of the stages of the night" (p. xxii).
The book also covers the five planets the Greek knew that they thought of as wandering stars. Their name derivations are so cool. The Brilliant (Phainon) was said to be Zeus (Jupiter to the Romans). The second was The Radiant (Phaethon) and it takes its name from Helios or Cronos (Saturn). The third was Ares (Mars), the fourth Aphrodite (Venus) and lastly, Hermes (Mercury) (pp. 130-132).
The Milky Way has its own amazing origin mythology. It was called Galaxia (the milky circle). "It was not possible for sons of Zeus to have any share in the honours of the sky unless they had been suckled at Hera's breast; and that is why Hermes, so they say, brought Heracles along after his birth and placed him at Hera's breast, for him to be suckled at it; but when Hera became aware of it, she thrust him away, and the rest of her milk spilled out accordingly to make up the milky circle" (p. 133).
cryo_guy's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good. I only gave a cursory scan of the commentary which makes up the majority of this...commentary. But from what I read of it, it seemed just fine. I found the intro informative; not thoroughly, but not excessively either. It has some nice comments about the cultural milieu and the style. I really picked this up to have a quick read through of the translation with the Greek facing, which I'd say this book performed that task completely. The translation is prose which doesn't stay true to the hexameters but I think it turns out fine. I've heard it's hard to translate Aratus' succinct yet flowing style into verse in English, but I also hear Poochigian gives it a decent go--perhaps I will find that in my future.
As for the poem itself, the Hellenistic use of epic is great and makes me nostalgic for Homer and Hesiod. At times the innovation can be blinding. The proem is great--Stoic invocation to Zeus and the Muses. Then a large chunk of how to spot constellations with a tad bit of etiological myth (The Maiden-Justice brings up Hesiod's age of metals myth, Orion and the Scorpion) and didactic elements dusted on top. Then there's a boring section about the axes that all the constellations are positioned on and how they revolve. And the last bit is about how you can predict the weather from sky signs but also animal behavior and more didacticism. Overall a fun, short read. Impress your friends with knowledge of this Hellenistic new age Stoic Hesiod! Everyone in the Roman world loved him; Vergil, Ovid, and Cicero all did translations. And, famously, Germanicus also did a Latin translation. He even (likely) was copied by none other than the foremost pastoral poet of the Hellenistic Period, Theocritus. Scholars say that he was born with a lyre in his hands and at the age of 5 he defeated Callimachus (who was also a five year old) in a Hellenistic battle of poetry. uh-RAY-tus
As for the poem itself, the Hellenistic use of epic is great and makes me nostalgic for Homer and Hesiod. At times the innovation can be blinding. The proem is great--Stoic invocation to Zeus and the Muses. Then a large chunk of how to spot constellations with a tad bit of etiological myth (The Maiden-Justice brings up Hesiod's age of metals myth, Orion and the Scorpion) and didactic elements dusted on top. Then there's a boring section about the axes that all the constellations are positioned on and how they revolve. And the last bit is about how you can predict the weather from sky signs but also animal behavior and more didacticism. Overall a fun, short read. Impress your friends with knowledge of this Hellenistic new age Stoic Hesiod! Everyone in the Roman world loved him; Vergil, Ovid, and Cicero all did translations. And, famously, Germanicus also did a Latin translation. He even (likely) was copied by none other than the foremost pastoral poet of the Hellenistic Period, Theocritus. Scholars say that he was born with a lyre in his hands and at the age of 5 he defeated Callimachus (who was also a five year old) in a Hellenistic battle of poetry. uh-RAY-tus
impalalove's review against another edition
2.0
Well, this collection of sources/commentary on the myths didn't quite meet my expectations: I was expecting a more affirmative explanation of the myths, but what I got instead were an explanation of why you couldn't have one concrete version - there are several different versions of myths. It was rather interesting.
The other thing that was rather interesting was just how much farming is tied to astronomy.
The other thing that was rather interesting was just how much farming is tied to astronomy.