Overview

The Alexandra attributed to Lykophron is a minor poetic masterpiece. At 1474 lines, it is one of the most important and notoriously difficult Greek poems dating from the Hellenistic period (most likely the early second century BC). Most of the poem purports to be a prophecy by the mythical Trojan princess, Kassandra, the most beautiful of the daughters of King Priam, and her prophecy ranges from the Trojan War to the Roman defeat of Macedon in 197 BC, which took place in the poet's own time. The poem's importance arises from the light which it sheds on Greek religion (in particular the role of women), on foundation myths and myths of colonial identity, and on local - especially Italian - cults and cult places. The difficulty of the poem stems from its unusual vocabulary - many words of ancient Greek are found only in this poem - and the riddling and indirect way in which most of the many mythological characters are introduced. As well as providing the Greek text in full and its English translation, this volume provides the first ever full-length commentary in English on the poem.

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9780198810643

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Reviews

Hornblower's commentary marks a new era in the study of the Alexandra. It will be the standard resource for understanding the poem for many years and will open up a 'minor poetic masterpiece' to readers who have avoided it as onerous or unrewarding. * Alexander Sens, Journal of Hellenic Studies * By using his immense learning as a guide, Hornblower helps us find our way through 'Lycophron's' obscure labyrinth and eventually penetrate into the dark world of the mysterious Alexandra. * Evina Sistakou, Classical Review * This commentary will be foundational for all future studies on Lycophron and will also prove useful for readers of all Hellenistic and Greek literature. Each page of the commentary is filled with excellent, clear and lucid insights on central issues, addressing traditional scholarly questions about the poem as well as engaging with current critical trends and interests ... [it] will go a long way towards stimulating even more interest in an important and brilliant poem. * Charles McNelis, Bryn Mawr Classical Review * The book is worth every penny ... one can foresee its being discussed at many a graduate seminar, though it is likely to be found only on the shelves of university libraries; and the reviewer is deeply conscious that this all-too-brief notice can do little more than draw attention to what is an outstanding feat of scholarship. * Colin Leach, Classics for All * detailed and impressive scholarship * Barbara Graziosi, The Times Literary Supplement * The volume not only fills an important gap in the scholarship in supplying a modern full-length commentary on the Alexandra, but begins to address the imbalance both in the briefer commentaries and in the more literary scholarship on Lycophron. Additionally, the introduction and the commentary make important contributions to the discourses on the date of the poem, its relations to Greek religion as evidenced in the literary and epigraphical records, and the relationship of the poem to the mythology surrounding Greek colonialism ... This commentary promises to open up the Alexandra to new audiences, particularly in Greek history and religion, and to be a cornerstone of the scholarship on Lycophron going forward. * Paul Ojennus, BMCR *

The volume not only fills an important gap in the scholarship in supplying a modern full-length commentary on the Alexandra, but begins to address the imbalance both in the briefer commentaries and in the more literary scholarship on Lycophron. Additionally, the introduction and the commentary make important contributions to the discourses on the date of the poem, its relations to Greek religion as evidenced in the literary and epigraphical records, and the relationship of the poem to the mythology surrounding Greek colonialism ... This commentary promises to open up the Alexandra to new audiences, particularly in Greek history and religion, and to be a cornerstone of the scholarship on Lycophron going forward. * Paul Ojennus, BMCR * detailed and impressive scholarship * Barbara Graziosi, The Times Literary Supplement * The book is worth every penny ... one can foresee its being discussed at many a graduate seminar, though it is likely to be found only on the shelves of university libraries; and the reviewer is deeply conscious that this all-too-brief notice can do little more than draw attention to what is an outstanding feat of scholarship. * Colin Leach, Classics for All * This commentary will be foundational for all future studies on Lycophron and will also prove useful for readers of all Hellenistic and Greek literature. Each page of the commentary is filled with excellent, clear and lucid insights on central issues, addressing traditional scholarly questions about the poem as well as engaging with current critical trends and interests ... [it] will go a long way towards stimulating even more interest in an important and brilliant poem. * Charles McNelis, Bryn Mawr Classical Review * By using his immense learning as a guide, Hornblower helps us find our way through 'Lycophron's' obscure labyrinth and eventually penetrate into the dark world of the mysterious Alexandra. * Evina Sistakou, Classical Review * Hornblower's commentary marks a new era in the study of the Alexandra. It will be the standard resource for understanding the poem for many years and will open up a 'minor poetic masterpiece' to readers who have avoided it as onerous or unrewarding. * Alexander Sens, Journal of Hellenic Studies * Simon Hornblower has engaged intensively with Lykophron's Alexandra,...publishing a Greek text, with an introduction, translation, and commentary. * Malcolm Heath, Greece & Rome Vol 70.2 *

Review from previous edition detailed and impressive scholarship Barbara Graziosi, The Times Literary Supplement The book is worth every penny ... one can foresee its being discussed at many a graduate seminar, though it is likely to be found only on the shelves of university libraries; and the reviewer is deeply conscious that this all-too-brief notice can do little more than draw attention to what is an outstanding feat of scholarship. Colin Leach, Classics for All

detailed and impressive scholarship Barbara Graziosi, The Times Literary Supplement The book is worth every penny ... one can foresee its being discussed at many a graduate seminar, though it is likely to be found only on the shelves of university libraries; and the reviewer is deeply conscious that this all-too-brief notice can do little more than draw attention to what is an outstanding feat of scholarship. Colin Leach, Classics for All A highly erudite and learned work by a scholar who epitomises the ivory tower ... The depth of discussion which Simon Hornblower provides, both in his lemmatic comments and in the introduction, will make this an indispensable work for those studying Lycophron and Hellenistic literature. Max Leventhal, Kernos This commentary will be foundational for all future studies on Lycophron and will also prove useful for readers of all Hellenistic and Greek literature. Each page of the commentary is filled with excellent, clear and lucid insights on central issues, addressing traditional scholarly questions about the poem as well as engaging with current critical trends and interests ... [it] will go a long way towards stimulating even more interest in an important and brilliant poem. Charles McNelis, Bryn Mawr Classical Review By using his immense learning as a guide, Hornblower helps us find our way through 'Lycophron's' obscure labyrinth and eventually penetrate into the dark world of the mysterious Alexandra. Evina Sistakou, Classical Review

Author Information

Simon Hornblower is a Former Senior Research Fellow in Classical Studies at All Souls College, Oxford.

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