Theocritus lived in the age called Hellenistic, following the conquests of Alexander the Great, which greatly increased the ascendancy of Greek culture. Both his poetry and what we can infer from it about his life display the cosmopolitanism that the widespread empire and its successors encouraged: he appears to have been familiar with at least Sicily, Miletus, Cos (an island near Anatolia), Athens and Alexandria, the two cultural capitals of the Greek world. Though best known to literary historians as the initiator of the ...
Read More
Theocritus lived in the age called Hellenistic, following the conquests of Alexander the Great, which greatly increased the ascendancy of Greek culture. Both his poetry and what we can infer from it about his life display the cosmopolitanism that the widespread empire and its successors encouraged: he appears to have been familiar with at least Sicily, Miletus, Cos (an island near Anatolia), Athens and Alexandria, the two cultural capitals of the Greek world. Though best known to literary historians as the initiator of the pastoral strain in poetry, that is, stylized representations of country folk, especially as they experience sexual desire, his Idylls go well beyond that subject matter to deal with city folk, fishermen, urban boy-love, heroes and demigods such as Herakles and the Di???skouroui, Helen of Troy, mythical figures like the Cyklops Polyph???mos, and his royal patrons, H???eron II of Syracuse and Pt???lemy II of Egypt. Also extant in the Greek Anthology are some epigrams attributed to him. Commentators doubt the authenticity of several poems, but they were regarded as his in antiquity, so they have remained in the collection. I have also included a perhaps later poem, M???gara, because like some idylls it extends the story of Herakles. They are all immensely enjoyable, especially when read aloud, even enacted, as they well may have been in ancient times. As I have used English versions of the musical ancient meters-mainly the dactylic hexameter derived from Homeric epic-their music resounds best in a viva voce reading. I have also provided notes to help readers not versed in ancient culture understand literary and historical contexts and allusions and to suggest interpretations as starting points for thinking about the poems.
Read Less
Add this copy of Idylls to cart. $2.39, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Oxford University Press.
Add this copy of Idylls to cart. $2.95, very good condition, Sold by American Classical League rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hamilton, OH, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Oxford University Press, USA.
Add this copy of The Idylls to cart. $3.11, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Penguin Group.
Add this copy of The Idylls to cart. $3.11, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Penguin Group.
Add this copy of The Idylls to cart. $3.11, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Penguin Group.
Add this copy of The Idylls to cart. $3.11, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Penguin Group.
Add this copy of The Idylls to cart. $3.11, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Penguin Group.
Add this copy of Idylls (Oxford World's Classics) to cart. $5.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB Inc. rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Oxford University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Idylls to cart. $8.16, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2008 by Oxford University Press.
Add this copy of Idylls to cart. $8.19, new condition, Sold by indoo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Avenel, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Oxford University Press.
