Bion of Smyrna: The Fragments and the Adonis

by Bion, J. D. Reed (Editor)

Overview

The work of Bion of Smyrna, a Greek poet who lived about 100 BC, survives in seventeen fragments and the longer Epitaph on Adonis. In this edition, J. D. Reed presents a new Greek text of the poems together with a facing translation. The substantial introduction covers Bion's place in the literary tradition, his treatment of ritual and myth in the Adonis poem, his style, and the textual transmission. The full commentary investigates details arising from the texts, with an emphasis on linguistic and literary-historical issues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521035545
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/23/2007
Series:	Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries , #33
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.47(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Introduction; 1. Bion's life; 2. Bion bucolicus; 3. Bion adoniazon; 4. Poems possibly by Bion; 5. Dialect; 6. Metre and prosody; 7. Some aspects of style; 8. Bion's influence; 9. The textual transmission; 10. About the texts and commentaries; Bibliographies; Texts and Translations; Commentary; Appendices; Indexes.

Editorial Reviews

"...J.D. Reed states: ‘My main goal is to place Bion in literary history between the poets he admired and those whom he inspired, and to make clear both his debt to tradition and his originality.... Reed has without a doubt achieved exactly what he set out to do and has produced an extremely thorough and very impressive work. Bion was very lucky to have found such a dedicated and enthusiastic commentator. ...Reed has succeeded in showing that Bion is a poet worth paying attention to for the elegance of his work, his contribution to the bucolic genre, and his influence on later writers. I really enjoyed and learned much from this excellent book." J.J. Clauss, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"...a valuable work for those interested in Bion Bucolicus, his poetry, and the myth and ritual surroundings Adonis. Especially for students of ancient Greek literature, poetry, and religion." Religious Studies Review

From the Publisher