Heracles in Early Greek Epic examines the protean nature of the greatest Greek hero, Heracles in Homeric and Hesiodic poetry, as well as in fragmentary epics such as Creophylus’ Oichalias Halosis, Pisander’s Heracleia, and Panyassis’ Heracleia. Several contributors explore Heracles’ associations with heroes in Near-Eastern literature and reflections in early epic about his involvement in the first sack of Troy, the tale of Hesione and the ketos, the war against the Meropes on Cos, and the sack of Oechalia. Other contributors study his role in other Archaic and Classical epics such as those written by Creophylus, Pisander, and Panyassis.
There is more material available on Herakles than any other Greek god or hero. His story has many more episodes than those of other heroes, concerning his life and death as well as his battles with myriad monsters and other opponents. In literature, he appears in our earliest Greek epic and lyric poetry, is reinvented for the tragic and comic stage, and later finds his way into such unlikely areas as philosophical writing and love poetry. In art, his exploits are amongst the earliest identifiable mythological scenes, and his easily-recognisable figure with lionskin and club was a familiar sight throughout antiquity in sculpture, vase-painting and other media. He was held up as an ancestor and role-model for both Greek and Roman rulers, and widely worshipped as a god, his unusual status as a hero-god being reinforced by the story of his apotheosis. Often referred to by his Roman name Hercules, he has continued to fascinate writers and artists right up to the present day. In Herakles, Emma Stafford has successfully tackled the ‘Herculean task’ of surveying both the ancient sources and the extensive modern scholarship in order to present a hugely accessible account of this important mythical figure. Covering both Greek and Roman material, the book highlights areas of consensus and dissent, indicating avenues for further study on both details and broader issues. Easy to read, Herakles is perfectly suited to students of classics and related disciplines, and of interest to anyone looking for an insight into ancient Greece’s most popular hero.
Cyclic verse. Greek epics of the archaic period include poems that narrate a particular heroic episode or series of episodes and poems that recount the long-term history of families or peoples. They are an important source of mythological record. Here is a new text and translation of the examples of this poetry that have come down to us. The heroic epic is represented by poems about Heracles and Theseus, and by two great epic cycles: the Theban Cycle, which tells of the failed assault on Thebes by the Seven and the subsequent successful assault by their sons; and the Trojan Cycle, which includes Cypria, Little Iliad, and The Sack of Ilion. Among the genealogical epics are poems in which Eumelus creates a prehistory for Corinth and Asius creates one for Samos. In presenting the extant fragments of these early epic poems, Martin West provides very helpful notes. His Introduction places the epics in historical context.
"The first half of the volume is devoted to the exposition of the ancient evidence, literary and iconographic, for the traditions of Heracles' life and deeds. After a chapter each on the hero's childhood and his madness, the canonical cause of his Twelve Labors, each of the Labors themselves receives detailed treatment in a dedicated chapter. The 'Parerga' or 'Side-Labors' are then treated in a similar level of detail in seven further chapters. In the second half of the book the Heracles tradition is analysed from a range of thematic perspectives. After consideration of the contrasting projections of the figure across the major literary genres, Epic, Tragedy, Comedy, Philosophy, and in the iconographic register, a number of his myth-cycle's diverse fils rouges are pursued: Heracles' fashioning as a folkloric quest-hero; his relationships with the two great goddesses, the Hera that persecutes him and the Athena that protects him; and the rationalisation and allegorisation of his cycle's constituent myths. The ways are investigated in which Greek communities and indeed Alexander the Great exploited the figure both in the fashioning of their own identities and for political advantage. The cult of Heracles is considered in its Greek manifestation, in its syncretism with that of the Phoenician Melqart, and in its presence at Rome, the last study leading into discussion of the use made of Heracles by the Roman emperors themselves and then by early Christian writers. A final chapter offers an authoritative perspective on the limitless subject of Heracles' reception in the western tradition"--
This is a full-scale edition with commentary of the archaic epic poems Oichalias Halosis by Kreophylos of Samos and Herakleia by Peisandros of Kamiros. The Greek text (divided between testimonies and fragments) is accompanied by detailed critical apparatus and English translation. There are also extensive introductions to the biography of each poet, the title of the poem, its content and style, as well as a careful examination of the relative chronology of each epic. The detailed commentary of every fragment offers an up-to-date examination of all the extant material that has come down to us through a rich indirect tradition. This is the second installment of the project Early Greek Epic Poets (vol. I: Genealogical and Antiquarian Epic, De Gruyter 2017), which aims to enhance the study of Greek epic poetry of the archaic and classical period by means of providing readers with authoritative editions and commentaries of a significant part of fragmentary early Greek epic.
This is the third volume in the series of commentaries on Early Greek Epic Fragments (EGEF III). It contains introduction, text, translation, and commentary on the Herakleia by Panyassis of Halikarnassos and on the Theseis. Two other volumes have been already published (EGEF I: Genealogical and Antiquarian Epic, De Gruyter 2017; EGEF II: Epics on Herakles: Kreophylos and Peisandros, De Gruyter 2022) and one more is to follow (EGEF IV: The Persika by Choerilos of Samos). This sub-series within TCSV aims to provide scholars and students with up-to-date commentaries on the extant fragments of early Greek epic that have not received, contrary to Cyclic epic, the attention they deserve.
A historico-critical study of the whole of the Book of Judges, based on the latest developments in the history and archaeology of Israel. A six stages scenario is presented for the growth of Judges: from a Retterbuch in Assyrian Bethel, Jerusalem under Kings Manasseh and Josiah, Babylonian Mizpah and its fight with Persian Jerusalem until the insertion of the book in the Historical Books, each editorial stage is set into a precise historical context. Richter's Retterbuch is confirmed (excepted for the date), Noth's Deuteronomistic History is discarded while a new proposal for the canonization of the Former Prophets is offered.
In the last fifty years major developments have taken place, both in the field of Homeric studies and in the rest of early Greek epic. These developments have not only created a more solid basis for studying the Homeric epics, but they have also broadened our horizons with respect to the place of Homeric poetry within a larger cultural milieu. The impressive advances in Hesiodic studies, the more systematic approach to the Epic Cycle, the more nuanced use and re-evaluation of dominant twentieth-century theories like Neoanalysis and Oral Theory, the study of other fragmentary Greek epic, the cognitive turn, narratology, the performance of epic poetry in the ancient and modern world, the fruitful utilization of Indo-European material, and the widely accepted recognition of the close relation between Homer and the mythology and literature of the ancient Near East have virtually shaped anew the way we read and understand Homer, Hesiod, and early Greek epic. The studies collected in this volume are informed by most of the aforementioned sub-fields and span four research areas: (i) Homer; (ii) Hesiod; (iii) the Epic Cycle; (d) the performance of epic.
