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iggymcmuffin's review against another edition
1.0
Too old testament for my liking, but I did get some details of mythology that I had gotten from other places.
stephen_angliss's review against another edition
3.0
Not really hymns. Not really by Homer. But that's okay.
A good way to discover what a culture values is by listening to their music. If an alien were to listen to Spotify's Top 100 today, he would assume that our society loves cars, big butts, "paper" and trucks driving down dirt roads.
In the same way, by reading the various odes to the gods, we discover what the ancient Greeks valued: fame, honor, prowess, chastity, and beauty.
A good way to discover what a culture values is by listening to their music. If an alien were to listen to Spotify's Top 100 today, he would assume that our society loves cars, big butts, "paper" and trucks driving down dirt roads.
In the same way, by reading the various odes to the gods, we discover what the ancient Greeks valued: fame, honor, prowess, chastity, and beauty.
vickiireads's review
5.0
A beautiful collection of songs believed to be written by Homer, in honour of the Greek gods of Olympus, which have been performed at festivals throughout Greece over the centuries. While some of them are only a few sentences long, these majestic hymns highlight the epic traits of such legends as Zeus, Demeter and Aphrodite, but my favourite would be ‘Hymn to Hermes’ which explores the newborn’s theft of the mighty Apollo’s sheep.
amandapgold's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
plutoally's review
3.0
A great book for those just stepping into the Classics world. It covers a good amount of basic hymns, my favourite by far was the Hymn to Hermès.
The notes and forward are also really valuable in providing helpful context.
The notes and forward are also really valuable in providing helpful context.
spacestationtrustfund's review
3.0
This review is of the translation by Jules Cashford.
Invocations to the gods, typically read before the beginnings of theatrical performances or at festivals; often repetitive, as is typical in Homeric structure. The Cashford translation is excellent, but I don't know why the author of this compilation is set to "Homer," considering that the hymns are currently presumed to be authored by various poets in the 7-6th c. BCE, in the style of Homeric verse.
Invocations to the gods, typically read before the beginnings of theatrical performances or at festivals; often repetitive, as is typical in Homeric structure. The Cashford translation is excellent, but I don't know why the author of this compilation is set to "Homer," considering that the hymns are currently presumed to be authored by various poets in the 7-6th c. BCE, in the style of Homeric verse.
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
3.0
This review is of the translation by Diane J. Rayor.
Diane Rayor edition my beloved <3
The strength is in the contextualising notes and introduction, as is typical with Rayor's works in my experience. From an academic perspective Rayor's edition is probably one of the best.
Diane Rayor edition my beloved <3
The strength is in the contextualising notes and introduction, as is typical with Rayor's works in my experience. From an academic perspective Rayor's edition is probably one of the best.
chrysomallos's review
3.0
This collection of songs/poems is charming, albeit somewhat simple, and limited. The work's biggest value lies in really bringing to life some familiar tales, such as the abduction of Persephone, the birth of Hermes, and the kidnapping of Dionysus. I was most touched by the account of the birth of Pan, whom I feel strongly connected to. The scholarly introduction provided valuable insight into the nature of the work, revealing interesting, though often speculatory, details on ancient Greek culture. If you are strongly interested in Greek mythology, this quick read will be likely to be worth your time.
lzanamiii's review against another edition
4.0
homer is slay, also my fav hymns were Hermes, Demeter, Aphrodite and Apollo!