Greek Hymns: Selected Cult Songs from the Archaic to the Hellenistic Period + Greek texts and commentary (2 vols)

William D. Furley and Jan Maarten Bremer provide the reader with as full a picture as possible of ancient Greek religious hymns which were sung either at religious services or in literary contexts imitating such services. The emphasis is laid on the edition of the Greek texts, both those which excavations of such sites as Delphi, Epidauros and Athens have produced from the 4th century BC on, and those which have been transmitted through the manuscript tradition or on papyri. The authors aim to provide full editorial assistance to the interpretation of the originals which are presented with textual variant readings, metrical analyses, general comment on the context - both historical and literary - of the texts, and then detailed line-by-line commentary. The material is divided into two volumes. The first offers, after a general introduction, all hymns in verse translation, each followed by a general discussion situating the text in the context of Greek worship. This volume as a whole is perfectly accessible to the Greekless reader; Greek citations are translated throughout. The second gives the Greek texts, apparatus criticus, metrical analysis and line-by-line commentary on language and content. Both volumes contain a bibliography and an index. Taken together, they present a 'reconstruction'of the composite genre of Greek lyric hymns, which many have lamented is hopelessly lost. The twofold approach of combining epigraphic and literary texts permits a fuller appreciation of the range of surviving texts than has hitherto been possible. The authors present a full survey of ancient Greek religious hymns which were sung either at religious services or in the literary contexts imitating such services. The emphasis is placed upon the edition of the Greek texts from 4th Century excavations at Delphi, Epidauros and Athens or those that have been transmitted through the manuscript tradition or on papyri. The authors offer full editorial assistance to the interpretation and originals, scholarly apparatus with textual variant readings, metrical analysis, general comment on the historical & literary context of the texts, and then detailed line-by-line commentary. Volume I offers an introduction and then all hymns in verse translation, each followed by a general discussion situating the text in the context of Greek worship. This first volume is perfectly accessible to the Greekless reader as Greek citations are translated throughout. Volume II gives the Greek texts, apparatus criticus, metrical analysis and line-by-line commentary on language & content. Both volumes contain a bibliography and index. Mr Furley studied Classics at University College, London, and holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge (Trinity College). Mr Bremer studies classics at Cambridge and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam. He has taught at Brown University and Columbia University in the US. V. 1. The Texts In Translation -- V. 2. Greek Texts And Commentary. William D. Furley, Jan Maarten Bremer. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Text In English And Greek.