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The ''Homeric Hymns'' () are a collection of thirty-three anonymous
ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...
hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...
s celebrating individual gods. The hymns are "Homeric" in the sense that they employ the same epic meter—
dactylic hexameter Dactylic hexameter (also known as heroic hexameter and the meter of epic) is a form of meter or rhythmic scheme frequently used in Ancient Greek and Latin poetry. The scheme of the hexameter is usually as follows (writing – for a long syllable, ...
—as the ''
Iliad The ''Iliad'' (; grc, Ἰλιάς, Iliás, ; "a poem about Ilium") is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odysse ...
'' and ''
Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major Ancient Greek literature, ancient Greek Epic poetry, epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by moder ...
'', use many similar formulas and are couched in the same dialect. While the modern scholarly consensus is that they were not written during the lifetime of
Homer Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...
himself, they were uncritically attributed to him in antiquity—from the earliest written reference to them,
Thucydides Thucydides (; grc, , }; BC) was an Athenian historian and general. His ''History of the Peloponnesian War'' recounts the fifth-century BC war between Sparta and Athens until the year 411 BC. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of "scientifi ...
(iii.104)—and the label has stuck. "The whole collection, as a collection, is ''Homeric'' in the only useful sense that can be put upon the word," A. W. Verrall noted in 1894, "that is to say, it has come down labeled as 'Homer' from the earliest times of Greek book-literature."


History

The oldest of the hymns were probably written in the seventh century BC, somewhat later than
Hesiod Hesiod (; grc-gre, Ἡσίοδος ''Hēsíodos'') was an ancient Greek poet generally thought to have been active between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer. He is generally regarded by western authors as 'the first written poet i ...
and the usually accepted date for the writing down of the Homeric epics. This still places the older ''Homeric Hymns'' among the oldest monuments of
Greek literature Greek literature () dates back from the ancient Greek literature, beginning in 800 BC, to the modern Greek literature of today. Ancient Greek literature was written in an Ancient Greek dialect, literature ranges from the oldest surviving writte ...
; but although most of them were composed in the seventh and sixth centuries, a few may be
Hellenistic In Classical antiquity, the Hellenistic period covers the time in Mediterranean history after Classical Greece, between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the emergence of the Roman Empire, as signified by the Battle of Actium in ...
, and the ''Hymn to Ares'' might be a late pagan work, inserted when it was observed that a hymn to
Ares Ares (; grc, Ἄρης, ''Árēs'' ) is the Greek god of war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war b ...
was lacking. The hymns to
Helios In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Helios (; grc, , , Sun; Homeric Greek: ) is the deity, god and personification of the Sun (Solar deity). His name is also Latinized as Helius, and he is often given the epithets Hyper ...
and
Selene In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Selene (; grc-gre, Σελήνη , meaning "Moon"''A Greek–English Lexicon's.v. σελήνη) is the goddess and the personification of the Moon. Also known as Mene, she is traditionally the daughter o ...
are also thought to have been composed a bit later than the others, but earlier than the one to Ares.
Walter Burkert Walter Burkert (; 2 February 1931 – 11 March 2015) was a German scholar of Greek mythology and cult. A professor of classics at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, he taught in the UK and the US. He has influenced generations of studen ...
has suggested that the ''Hymn to Apollo'', attributed by an ancient source to
Cynaethus Cynaethus or Cinaethus ( el, Κύναιθος or Κίναιθος) of Chios was a rhapsode, a member of the Homeridae, sometimes said to have composed the '' Homeric Hymn to Apollo''. The main source of information on Cynaethus is a Scholium to P ...
of Chios (a member of the
Homeridae The Homeridae ( grc, Ὁμηρίδαι) were a family, clan or professional lineage on the island of Chios claiming descent from the Greek epic poet Homer. The origin of the name seems obvious: in classical Greek the word should mean "children o ...
), was composed in 522 BC for performance at the unusual double festival held by
Polycrates of Samos Polycrates (; grc-gre, Πολυκράτης), son of Aeaces, was the tyrant of Samos from the 540s BC to 522 BC. He had a reputation as both a fierce warrior and an enlightened tyrant. Sources The main source for Polycrates' life and activit ...
to honor Apollo of
Delos The island of Delos (; el, Δήλος ; Attic: , Doric: ), near Mykonos, near the centre of the Cyclades archipelago, is one of the most important mythological, historical, and archaeological sites in Greece. The excavations in the island are ...
and of
Delphi Delphi (; ), in legend previously called Pytho (Πυθώ), in ancient times was a sacred precinct that served as the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The oracle ...
. The hymns, which must be the remains of a once more strongly represented genre, vary widely in length, some being as brief as three or four lines, while others are in excess of five hundred lines. The long ones comprise an invocation, praise, and narrative, sometimes quite extended. In the briefest ones, the narrative element is lacking. The longer ones show signs of having been assembled from pre-existing disparate materials. Most surviving
Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
manuscripts begin with the third Hymn. A chance discovery in
Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
in 1777 recovered the two hymns that open the collection, the fragmentary ''To Dionysus'' and ''To Demeter'' (complete save some lacunose lines), in a single fifteenth-century manuscript. At least some of the shorter ones may be excerpts that have omitted the narrative central section, preserving only the useful invocation and introduction,"husks, introductions and conclusions from which the narrative core has been removed" as Robert Parker calls them, "The 'Hymn to Demeter' and the 'Homeric Hymns'" ''Greece & Rome'' 2nd Series 38.1 (April 1991, pp. 1–17) p. 1. Parker notes that, for instance, Hymn 18 preserves a version of the beginning and end of the ''Hymn to Hermes''. which a
rhapsode A rhapsode ( el, ῥαψῳδός, "rhapsōidos") or, in modern usage, rhapsodist, refers to a classical Greek professional performer of epic poetry in the fifth and fourth centuries BC (and perhaps earlier). Rhapsodes notably performed the epic ...
could employ in the manner of a prelude. The thirty-three hymns praise most of the major gods of Greek religion; at least the shorter ones may have served as preludes to the recitation of epic verse at festivals by professional rhapsodes: often the singer concludes by saying that now he will pass to another song. A thirty-fourth, ''To Hosts'' is not a hymn, but a reminder that hospitality is a sacred duty enjoined by the gods, a pointed reminder when coming from a professional rhapsode.


List of the ''Homeric Hymns''

# "To
Dionysus In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; grc, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity, and theatre. The Romans ...
", 21 lines # "To
Demeter In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Demeter (; Attic: ''Dēmḗtēr'' ; Doric: ''Dāmā́tēr'') is the Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth. Although s ...
", 495 lines # "To
Apollo Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...
", 546 lines # "To
Hermes Hermes (; grc-gre, Ἑρμῆς) is an Olympian deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Hermes is considered the herald of the gods. He is also considered the protector of human heralds, travellers, thieves, merchants, and orato ...
", 580 lines # "To
Aphrodite Aphrodite ( ; grc-gre, Ἀφροδίτη, Aphrodítē; , , ) is an ancient Greek goddess associated with love, lust, beauty, pleasure, passion, and procreation. She was syncretized with the Roman goddess . Aphrodite's major symbols include ...
", 293 lines # "To Aphrodite", 21 lines # "To Dionysus", 59 lines # "To
Ares Ares (; grc, Ἄρης, ''Árēs'' ) is the Greek god of war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war b ...
", 17 lines # "To
Artemis In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Artemis (; grc-gre, Ἄρτεμις) is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. She was heavily identified wit ...
", 9 lines # "To Aphrodite", 6 lines # "To
Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarded as the patron and protectress of ...
", 5 lines # "To
Hera In ancient Greek religion, Hera (; grc-gre, Ἥρα, Hḗrā; grc, Ἥρη, Hḗrē, label=none in Ionic and Homeric Greek) is the goddess of marriage, women and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. In Greek mythology, she ...
", 5 lines # "To Demeter", 3 lines # "To the mother of the gods" ( Rhea/
Cybele Cybele ( ; Phrygian: ''Matar Kubileya/Kubeleya'' "Kubileya/Kubeleya Mother", perhaps "Mountain Mother"; Lydian ''Kuvava''; el, Κυβέλη ''Kybele'', ''Kybebe'', ''Kybelis'') is an Anatolian mother goddess; she may have a possible forer ...
), 6 lines # "To
Heracles Heracles ( ; grc-gre, Ἡρακλῆς, , glory/fame of Hera), born Alcaeus (, ''Alkaios'') or Alcides (, ''Alkeidēs''), was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon.By his adoptive ...
with the heart of a lion", 9 lines # "To
Asclepius Asclepius (; grc-gre, Ἀσκληπιός ''Asklēpiós'' ; la, Aesculapius) is a hero and god of medicine in ancient Religion in ancient Greece, Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology. He is the son of Apollo and Coronis (lover of ...
", 5 lines # "To the
Dioscuri Castor; grc, Κάστωρ, Kástōr, beaver. and Pollux. (or Polydeukes). are twin half-brothers in Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology, known together as the Dioscuri.; grc, Διόσκουροι, Dióskouroi, sons of Zeus, links=no, f ...
", 5 lines # "To Hermes", 12 lines # "To Pan", 49 lines # "To
Hephaestus Hephaestus (; eight spellings; grc-gre, Ἥφαιστος, Hḗphaistos) is the Greek god of blacksmiths, metalworking, carpenters, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metallurgy, fire (compare, however, with Hestia), and volcanoes.Walter Burk ...
", 8 lines # "To Apollo", 5 lines # "To
Poseidon Poseidon (; grc-gre, Ποσειδῶν) was one of the Twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and myth, god of the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 In pre-Olympian Bronze Age Greece, he was venerated as a ch ...
", 7 lines # "To
Zeus Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label=Genitive case, genitive Aeolic Greek, Boeotian Aeolic and Doric Greek#Laconian, Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label=Genitive case, genitive el, Δίας, ''D ...
", 4 lines # "To
Hestia In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Hestia (; grc-gre, Ἑστία, meaning "hearth" or "fireside") is the virgin goddess of the hearth, the right ordering of domesticity, the family, the home, and the state. In myth, she is the firstborn ...
", 5 lines # "To the
Muses In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the p ...
and
Apollo Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...
", 7 lines # "To Dionysus", 13 lines # "To Artemis", 22 lines # "To Athena", 18 lines # "To Hestia", 13 lines # "To
Gaia In Greek mythology, Gaia (; from Ancient Greek , a poetical form of , 'land' or 'earth'),, , . also spelled Gaea , is the personification of the Earth and one of the Greek primordial deities. Gaia is the ancestral mother—sometimes parthenog ...
, mother of all", 19 lines # "To
Helios In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Helios (; grc, , , Sun; Homeric Greek: ) is the deity, god and personification of the Sun (Solar deity). His name is also Latinized as Helius, and he is often given the epithets Hyper ...
", 19 lines # "To
Selene In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Selene (; grc-gre, Σελήνη , meaning "Moon"''A Greek–English Lexicon's.v. σελήνη) is the goddess and the personification of the Moon. Also known as Mene, she is traditionally the daughter o ...
", 20 lines # "To the Dioscuri", 19 lines


Notes


Select translations


''The Homeric Hymns''
Apostolos N. Athanassakis (translation, introduction and notes) Baltimore, MD;
Johns Hopkins University Press The Johns Hopkins University Press (also referred to as JHU Press or JHUP) is the publishing division of Johns Hopkins University. It was founded in 1878 and is the oldest continuously running university press in the United States. The press publi ...
, 1976. (Updated in 2004.)
''The Homeric Hymns: A Translation, with Introduction and Notes''
Diane Rayor (2004, updated 2014). This translation sets the hymns in their context of Greek folklore, culture and geography, and offers parallels with Near Eastern texts. *''Homeric Hymns'',
Sarah Ruden Sarah Elizabeth Ruden is an American writer of poetry, essays, translations of Classic literature, and popularizations of Biblical philology, religious criticism and interpretation. Early life Sarah Ruden was born in Ohio in 1962 and raised i ...
, trans. (Indianapolis: Hackett, 2005) *''The Homeric Hymns, Works of Hesiod and the Homeric Hymns'',
Daryl Hine William Daryl Hine (February 24, 1936 – August 20, 2012) was a Canadian poet and translator. A MacArthur Fellow for the class of 1986, Hine was the editor of ''Poetry'' from 1968 to 1978. He graduated from McGill University in 1958 and then st ...
, trans. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008) * To Demeter (Εἲς Δημήτραν): *
Gregory Nagy
*
Hugh Gerard Evelyn-White, Perseus Digital Library
**
Greek text


Further reading

* Allen, Thomas W., William R. Halliday, and Edward E. Sikes, eds. 1936. ''The Homeric Hymns.'' 2d ed. Oxford: Clarendon. * Clay, Jenny Strauss. 2006. ''The Politics of Olympus: Form and Meaning in the Major Homeric Hymns.'' London: Duckworth. * De Jong, Irene J. F. 2012. "The Homeric Hymns." In ''Space in Ancient Greek Literature: Studies in Ancient Greek Narrative.'' Edited by Irene J. F. De Jong, 39-53 Leiden; Boston: Brill. * Depew, Mary. 2001. "Enacted and Represented Dedications: Genre and Greek Hymn." In ''Matrices of Genre: Authors, Canons, and Society.'' Edited by Mary Depew and Dirk Obbink, 59–79. * Faulkner, Andrew. 2011. "Modern Scholarship on the Homeric Hymns: Foundational Issues." In ''The Homeric Hymns: Interpretative Essays.'' Edited by Andrew Faulkner. 1–25. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. * García, J. 2002. "Symbolic Action in the Homeric Hymns: The Theme of Recognition." ''Classical Antiquity'' 21.1: 5-39. * Hoekstra, Arie. 1969. ''The Sub-Epic Stage of the Formulaic Tradition: Studies in the Homeric Hymns to Apollo, to Aphrodite and to Demeter.'' Amsterdam: Hakkert. * Janko, Richard. 1981. "The Structure of the Homeric Hymns: A Study in Genre." ''Hermes'' 109:9–24. * Nagy, Gregory. 2009. "Perfecting the Hymn in the Homeric Hymn to Apollo." In ''Apolline Politics and Poetics.'' Edited by Lucia Athanassaki, 17-42. Athens: Hellenic Ministry of Culture: European Cultural Centre of Delphi. * Richardson, Nicholas, ed. 2010. ''Three Homeric hymns: To Apollo, Hermes, and Aphrodite.'' Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press. * Sowa, Cora A. 1984. ''Traditional Themes and the Homeric Hymns.'' Chicago: Blochazy-Carducci. * Webster, T. B. L. 1975. "Homeric Hymns and Society." In ''Le Monde Grec. Pensée, Littérature, Histoire, Documents. Hommages à Claire Préaux.'' Edited by Jean Bingen, 86-93. Bruxelles: Éditions de l'Université de Bruxelles


External links


Homeric Hymns at Perseus Digital Library
A condensed version of the introduction by Diane J. Rayor, ''The Homeric Hymns : A Translation, with Introduction and Notes'' (2004) * {{Authority control 7th-century BC books 6th-century BC books Ancient Greek hymns Homer