Product Description
Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White ... Read more

Book Description

Hesiod (Hesiodus), an epic poet apparently of the eighth century BC, was born in Asia Minor but moved to Boeotia in central Greece. He was regarded by later Greeks as a contemporary of Homer.

Three works survive under Hesiod's name: (1) "Works and Days," addressed to his brother. In it he gives us the allegories of the two Strifes, and the myth of Pandora; stresses that every man must work; describes the accepted Five Ages of the world; delivers moral advice; surveys in splendid style a year's work on a farm; gives precepts on navigation; and propounds lucky and unlucky days. (2) "Theogony," a religious work about the rise of the gods and the universe from Chaos to the triumph of Zeus, and about the progeny of Zeus and of goddesses in union with mortal men. (3) "The Shield" (not by Hesiod), an extract from a "Catalogue of Women," the subject being Alcmena and her son Heracles and his contest with Cycnus, with a description of Heracles' shield. All three works are of great literary interest.

Customer Reviews (2)

Invaluable for Classicists
Like all Loeb Classics, this edition is presented with the ancient greek text on the left page, and its english translation on the right, giving students of classical greek an easy cross-reference.The translations are easy to read and not too difficult to comprehend, while still at the same time accurately rendered (unlike many Loeb translations, which are frequently too literal a translation to be readable).

But what makes this book of keen interest is not the attention paid to Hesiod's Theogony and Works & Days, nor the anonymous "Homeric" Hymns, but rather to its meticulous compedium of the lesser-known works it presents.Especially, for those works for which no complete version has survived, only fragments and occassional (later) commentaries.

In this volume you discover a wonderful epic poem called The Catalogue of Women and Eoie, of which only about half survives scattered among a hundred or so fragments.You also discover The Shield of Hercules, which some attribute to Hesiod.But most fascinating of all are the fragments of the Epic Cycle, poems written as a sort of "history" of the Greek people, of which the two great works by Homer (The Iliad and The Odyssey) were the most well-known and the only ones to survive intact.As far as I know, this is the only volume in english which gathers all of these fragments together and attempts to sort them out in some kind of order; for those interested in the ancient epics, this alone makes the edition worth the price.

This book is a sobering reminder of just how much has been lost over the centuries, of just how little actually has survived.Sadly, this is now probably the closest anyone will ever get to being able to read The Cypriad or The Melampodia again, and that's a shame.

Very literal translation...very helpful.
Sometimes when consulting the Loeb Library for a translation of a greek text one finds a version wildly different than the original.This volume of the Loeb niether betrays the text, nor translates with arcane vocabulary(e.g. thou, thee, etc.).All in all, a very useful tool. ... Read more

Book Description
This volume contains practically all that remains of the post-Homeric and pre-academic epic poetry, including: Works and Days, and Theogony both attributed to Hesiod; Homeric Hymns and Epigrams of Homer both attributed to Homer; plus various fragments such as Fragments of the Epic Cycle ... Read more

Book Description
This book fills a void in classical scholarship with its treatment of the interplay between farming and poetry in Hesiod's poem and in later Greek poetry. Its accessibility to those unfamiliar with ancient Greek is heightened by the translations of Greek words and phrases, along with an introduction aimed at the non-specialist, yet the book deals masterfully with semantics and parallels within Greek poetics in order to reveal the interconnectedness of Hesiod's Almanac and moral themes. "Farming and Poetry in Hesiod's Works and Days" will be of interest to classical scholars and the general reader interested in Greek poetics. ... Read more

Book Description
Homer and Hesiod, Myth and Philosophy is a study of the nature and function of the poetry of Homer and Hesiod when their work is considered in historical context as the initial significant developments of poetry as a distinctive voice for truth beyond religion and myth. To understand their innovations properly, this work begins with the presentation of an account of the nature of religion and myth and in particular of the disclosure of truth achieved in myth. Then it takes up the Homeric and Hesiodic innovations which transform the bardic poetry that was heritage from at least Mycenaean times and that make the inspired poet an educative voice for truth. After giving an account of the four major poems in which this transformation is embodied: "Illiad" and "Odyssey", "Theogony" and "Works and Days", the work concludes with a discussion of how these creations shaped the matrix within which philosophy arose. In this way it points to why the distinctive realization of philosophy in Greece (as contrasted with that in China and India) involved what the Platonic Socrates can speak of as "an ancient quarrel between poetry and philosophy." ... Read more

Book Description
This book, out of print for many years, has long been recognized as the standard work on Hesiod's influence on other Athenian poets, particularly Aeschylus.

"Solmsen has attempted . . . to answer two questions: what was original in Hesiod's poems (as distinct from the mass of traditional myth and religious beliefs incorporated in them) and what Solon and Aeschylus derived from him. The author examines the Prometheia and the Eumenides at length, and he devotes a chapter to Solon. It is an important book."--Greece and Rome ... Read more

Book Description
Stretching back more than two thousand years and spanning diversetraditions, religious vegetarianism has an ancient and rich history. In this book, Kerry S.Walters and Lisa Portmess gather writings that reflect devotional as well as moreanalytical responses to age-old questions of animal suffering, dietary practice, and humanresponsibility. These include writings from ancient Orphic and Pythagorean authors,writings that span centuries of Indian and Buddhist thought, and writings from the Judaic,Christian, and Islamic traditions. Interesting both to those well-versed in the literature ofvegetarianism as well as to others encountering it for the first time, are tensions withintraditions over the use of animals for food--whether such use is consonant withfundamental values of the faith, whether religious law or tradition requires vegetarianpractice, and what place animals are thought to hold in the order of nature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A badly-needed break
This book is a breath of fresh air.All we hear about today when it comes to religions is how they breed intolerance and violence.That may be so for the most part, but Religious Vegetarianism shows the other side.All the major world traditions also have a core of peacefulness and love that extends to humans, animals, and the earth itself.This book shows one way that this core works itself out in practical terms--through what the authors call religious vegetarianism.I give it four starts instead of five because it doesn't discuss paganism, which is the most eco-sensitive of all the world's religions.But it's still a very good read.

God & Food & Nonviolence
For those of us who think that killing animals for food is a violation of deep spiritual laws, this book is a Godsend.At this time, when war and destruction seems right around the corner, beginning to practice nonviolence in our daily lives seems like a good idea.This book helps us along the way.It's a very good partner to Portmess and Walter's earlier book, Ethical Vegetarianism.

Informative
This book is an eyeopener.For the vegetarian as well as the nonvegetarian.It gives a good account of how different religious faiths around the world and across time have preached a meatless diet.It's pretty well known that buddhists and hindus preach vegetarianism, but I was particularly interested to learn there is a strong tradition of vegetarianism in the Jewish and Christian traditions.

It was worth the wait!
I've been looking forward to the publication of this book ever since I heard it was in the works two years ago.It was worth every bit of the wait.It's an excellent companion to Walters and Portmess Ethical Vegetarianism, but it's also a fine book by itself.It discusses religious justifications of vegetarianism from a number of religious traditions.I was especially intrigued by the discussions of Xtian and Jewish vegetarianism.I always thought that there was no spiritual support in these two traditions for vegetarianism, but now I see that this is plain wrong.In fact, Both Xtianity and Judaism have a long tradition of compassion for animals.You just have to do a little reading between the lines.If you're looking for a spiritual grounding for your vegetarianism, get this book.It's great! ... Read more

Book Description
Greek Myths and Mesopotamia investigates the nature and extent of Mesopotamian influence on Greek religious mythological works.It shows how Mesopotamian ideas and motifs can increase our understanding of, for instance, the Homeric hymns to Apollo, Aphrodite or Athena, and of the works of Hesiod. This book is essential reading for scholars and students of ancient Greek and Near Eastern religion and mythology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

THE CHTHONIC SOJOURN & THE ASCENT IN POWER
Penglase examines structural relationships between on the one hand the `Homeric' hymns from c.650BC (?) and Hesiod's `Theogony' and `Works & Days' from sometime in the eight century and on the other, the myths of Inanna-Ishtar, Dumuzi (Tammuz - as in the month in Arabic and Hebrew) and Ninurta-Ningirsu in the Mesopotamian tradition.

The book begins within a recounting of Inanna's descent into the underworld & the image of her clothes as power (SJK- common to the Gnostic and Hermetic traditions as well). Her condemnation to death by the Anunnaki represents the initial defeat motif and by means of her - seemingly, horizontal - ascent she gains netherworld powers. There is no discussion of her emergence onto the mythological scene or the fact that she (earlier (s)he) was probably a composite deity from various local versions.

Ekur (`kur' means `mountain') relates closely to Olympus but there is no attempt by Penglase to force Mesopotamia to be the origin of the Olympian gods - for Leto, Apollo, Artemis, Demeter & Persephone as well as the motif of Athena's birth and Zeus' journey for power, the relationship is only structurally derivative. The exception is Aphrodite who is probably a direct derivative of Ishtar.

In the Hymn to Apollo, both Apollo and his mother, Leto, perform journeys whilst Hera's role parallels that of Erishkegal. Again, the ascent sequence from within the earth follows the image of the searching mother goddess. There is an initial defeat which is later rectified and the complete journey results in the alternating ascent and descent of the deity with accompanying fertility effects. Apollo's struggles with Pytho and the river Telphousa are related to the Tiamat motif. But whilst Telphousa and Tiamat are both essentially animate, Asag and the kur are essentially inanimate. There isn't much of an attempt to develop this into a chronological modification. Common motifs include food, dressing, noise, radiance, & the return journey to the Assembly of the supreme deity.

The Hymn to Demeter is of particular interest because it is the first written evidence of the Mysteries of Eleusis but the literature of the time presents a very sombre view of the afterlife. Whilst there is plenty on the pomegranate motif there is no mention of the fact that it is a sacred symbol for both Tanit (as successor deity for Astarte and Asherah) and the Kore cults in Carthaginian Tunisia. The unwashed journey of Demeter parallels that of Dutter whilst the child gender issue which threatens to unwind Penglase's analysis is settled by both the kouros / Ploutos in one tradition and by the descent of Geshtinanna's descent in the other. The carrying away of a young person parallels Geshtinanna in the composition `Dumuzi's Dream' and both are accompanied by cosmic screaming. Pengalse rejects the oft-accepted rape thesis on the grounds that `poll'aekazomeni' demonstrates both sexual unwillingness on the part of the young girl and also Hades' forbearance. I remain less than 100% convinced although I don't rule out his interpretation. The Isis / Osiris myth from Egypt is argued to have come from the Persephone legend and not the other way around - this does make sense in spite of the fact that Isis was a clearly defined deity prior to 2500BC. The pig connection between Isis and Demeter is not discussed.

Of great interest is the issue of the drought image. It is argued that given the Greek environmental surroundings, the image of drought fits better with the risks of living in the Iraqi homelands of the Sumerians, Akkadians and Babylonians. But what is never asked is: `From whence did the Greeks come?' There isn't even any mention of the roles played by Zeus. Hera, Athena and Artemis in known Linear B texts from Pylos and Knossos. Admittedly any analysis is going to run in to problems given such limited religious material beyond 750BC.

Penglase roundly rejects the pan-IndoEuropeanist view of Aphrodite seeing her as part of a common development from Inanna-Ishtar with Astarte, and more controversially, Asherah. Common to both Ishtar and Aphrodite are the control of sexual desire (SJK - Ishtar was more deity of sex and violence than love and war), their original androgynous roots (SJK - Inanna was originally both the morning and evening star and both male and female although she is not alone amongst goddesses in having male traits. Interestingly, both Athar and Akkadian Ishtar are masculine in linguistic form), Ourania `the Queen of Heaven', the sacrifice of doves and sacred prostitution. In addition both have a shepherd lover. Strangely enough there is no mention of the shared embroidered girdle with intrinsic powers but Penglase is absolutely clear on ruling out Phoenician influences.

In the creation of Pandora, the first woman, it is the thought that comes from Zeus whilst the creative ability comes from Hephaistos and Athena. This parallels the roles of Enlil and Enki in the Mesopotamian creation myth. Notably, there is no actual female deity involvement in the Enuma Elish. Pandora's powers of attraction are argued to be - at least in part - resultant from the attire she wears.

Penglase's discussion of the birth of Athena is based on evidence from the Homeric Hymn to Athena and the Seventh Olympian Ode of Pindar and the differences from Mesopotamian ideas are seen as the result, not of misunderstanding, but rather of deliberate design. Hesiod is argued not to be presenting a fundamental new paradigm within Greek mythological thinking but rather acting as compiler and integrating Hittite material. Athena springs from Zeus' head but bear in mind here that the Greek word for `head' can also be read as `mountain peak'.

But surely there is also a connection with the overthrow of one order of deities by another? Penglase doesn't dwell on this, nor on the nature of pre-existing Akkadian religion prior to its Sumarianisation or even the issue of the Dorian `invasion' at the start of the Greek Dark Age. Nevertheless, a heavy-going read as it sometimes is, this book is time well invested.

great comparisons
Penglase is one of the leading experts on Greek and Mesopotamian mythology and any influence that may have occured between the two.He promotes what I would call "big theme" influences, not tiny details that stripeach culture of its own creativity.A bit confusing at times, it is wellworth the time of myth speicalists. ... Read more