The Best of the Achaeans: Concepts of the Hero in Archaic Greek Poetry by Gregory Nagy


The Best of the Achaeans: Concepts of the Hero in Archaic Greek Poetry
Title : The Best of the Achaeans: Concepts of the Hero in Archaic Greek Poetry
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0801860156
ISBN-10 : 9780801860157
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 424
Publication : First published January 1, 1979

Despite widespread interest in the Greek hero as a cult figure, little was written about the relationship between the cult practices and the portrayals of the hero in poetry. The first edition of The Best of the Achaeans bridged that gap, raising new questions about what could be known or conjectured about Greek heroes. In this revised edition, which features a new preface by the author, Gregory Nagy reconsiders his conclusions in the light of the subsequent debate and resumes his discussion of the special status of heroes in ancient Greek life and poetry. His book remains an engaging introduction both to the concept of the hero in Hellenic civilization and to the poetic forms through which the hero is defined: the Iliad and Odyssey in particular and archaic Greek poetry in general.

The Best of the Achaeans: Concepts of the Hero in Archaic Greek Poetry Reviews

  • saïd

    Originally read for university research studies.

  • Bea🌷

    2.5

    After all the interesting books analyzing the Iliad I have read lately, this was just too dull.

  • Leija

    This treatise was my first encounter with Nagy's thinking many years ago. Nagy has found the "outgrown track to Language" and knows how to instruct the track to a modern academic reader. He changed my approach to the thinking of the ancient Indo-European man and after that moment of realization, this change has been irreversible. Humble thanks.

  • Jason Kassel, PhD

    Prof. Nagy's interpretations were essential for my novel version of Euripides' Madness of Herakles
    https://jasonkassel.substack.com/.

  • David

    This world is known to us through Homer and the artifacts left behind. Nagy does an excellent job at giving us a glimpse of these heroic people - Achilles and co.