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Hesiod: Volume I, Theogony. Works and Days. Testimonia (Loeb Classical Library No. 57N) Hardcover – January 15, 2007

by Hesiod (Author), Glenn W. Most (Translator)

4.8 18 ratings

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Hesiod describes himself as a Boeotian shepherd who heard the Muses call upon him to sing about the gods. His exact dates are unknown, but he has often been considered a younger contemporary of Homer. This volume of the new Loeb Classical Library edition offers a general introduction, a fluid translation facing an improved Greek text of Hesiod's two extant poems, and a generous selection of testimonia from a wide variety of ancient sources regarding Hesiod's life, works, and reception.

In Theogony Hesiod charts the history of the divine world, narrating the origin of the universe and the rise of the gods, from first beginnings to the triumph of Zeus, and reporting on the progeny of Zeus and of goddesses in union with mortal men. In Works and Days Hesiod shifts his attention to the world of men, delivering moral precepts and practical advice regarding agriculture, navigation, and many other matters; along the way he gives us the myths of Pandora and of the Golden, Silver, and other Races of Men.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“For a wider audience, especially in this era of resurgent environmental verse, the day of the rural seer and sage may finally have arrived. Glenn Most's splendid new bilingual volume is, therefore, timely...It offers readers and scholars alike the most reliable prose translation and the richest supplementary materials available.”―Richard Martin, New York Sun

“In the stimulating introduction to his new Loeb Classics two-volume edition of Hesiod, Glenn Most makes the case that we, too, should admire Hesiod for his powerful and unified worldview...The vast questions that are addressed in these poems―the origins of the gods, the way the world works, the reasons why things are as they are―can be seen as the first rumblings of natural science, physics, philosophy, theology, medicine, autobiography, agriculture, law, even history and textual criticism...Hesiod is our oldest source for many of the best-known and best-loved stories of Greek mythology...The disturbing moral complexity of the Hesiodic poems is all the more reason why we should continue to read and study them...No other modern English translation includes the fragmentary works or the ancient testimonia. If you already have some familiarity with Hesiod's two best-known works and you want to know more about the rest of the Hesiodic corpus and about the ancient reception of this canonical figure, then Most's new Loeb books will be essential. Most makes various important corrections and improvements in his translation...We may look back to Hesiod's poetry as representative of a cultural Golden Age when it was possible for a single work of literature to encompass the whole of traditional 'wisdom': high and low, ancient and modern, philosophical and poetic, practical and metaphysical. Perhaps even our Age of Iron could learn from him.”―Emily Wilson, New Republic

About the Author

Glenn W. Most is Professor of Greek Philology, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, and Professor of Social Thought, University of Chicago.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harvard University Press (January 15, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 308 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0674996224
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0674996229
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1 x 6.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #768,223 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #671 in Ancient & Classical Literary Criticism (Books)
- #1,829 in Folklore & Mythology Studies
- #2,759 in Literary Criticism & Theory

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4.8 18 ratings

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4.8 out of 5

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Romario Salas Cerdas

This book is great. The long introduction provide is very informative

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2016

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This book is great. The long introduction provide is very informative, and the text is very pleasant to read, both the greek and the english translation. I am just a greek language beginner so I cannot give a fully detailed opinion about the greek text, but I am sure it has little to no mistakes as well. The binding is also excellent. A recommended book.

One person found this helpful

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Thomas W. Blakey

Homer first, Hesiod second.

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2013

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If you are anything like me, there are times when dealing with Greek mythology, when you can't tell the players without a scorecard. This is a good scorecard.

2 people found this helpful

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Tommy Tung

Not too bad

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2013

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It's pretty decent! The only complaint I really have with it is the fact that it doesn't really use all of the traditional names given for the Protogenoi. Apart from that, excellent reference! Love it overall to be honest.

One person found this helpful

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William L. Cunningham

Foundational Work of Western Culture

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2014

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One of the foundational works of Western culture - in the original. NB: There are better translations available.

One person found this helpful

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Stuart D. Robertson

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2014

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A great edition of a classic.

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Bryan Kerr

Defending the Western Canon

Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2012

I came to Hesiod's "Theogony," & "Works and Days," with no previous knowledge. I have been reading Harold Bloom's list of important works, and Hesiod was the next author on Bloom's lengthy recommended reading list. I bought the LOEB version because I have found its translations to have (to my uneducated mind) the appearance of a more literal translation; not to mention the books are published by Harvard, a fact which lends credibility to the produced works (at least to this reader's mind). The volume in question begins with a masterful introduction, with a lengthy bibliography of important academic works on Hesiod's writings. I found myself continually referring back to the introduction as I got hung up on some of Hesiod's ideas. The introduction was invaluable in that regards.

The LOEB volume begins with "Theogony," or the story of how the Greek gods came to be. Theogony contains more than just stories of the gods but it was that theme that seemed most prominent. "Works and Days" follows immediately, and contains Hesiod's quotidian life-advice to his brother Perses. The advice contains thoughts on economics, farming, sea-faring, worship, and justice. Like all ethical treatises, "Works and Days'" principles should be understood within the historical context of the author. The part of this LOEB volume is called "Testimonia." This section is not a translation of a completed work but an amalgamation of Greek and Latin authors' comments on Hesiod, his life, writings, death, poetry, philosophy and religion. "Testimonia" was my favorite part of the book.

After finishing this volume I asked myself, "are these two Hesiodian works justified as part of a western canon?" I struggled a bit with this one. Reading "Testimonia" helped demonstrate the importance that the Greek and Latin writers placed on Hesiod's writings. The fact that Plato took the time to criticize some of Hesiod's ideas would seem to justify reading this volume. As far as page-turning books go, this is not one of them; yet, a propensity to "page-turning" in no wise makes a book worthy in and of itself. Were I not reading chronologically I do not believe I would recommend these two works. I see their importance in helping to give birth to more books, and poetry but for this reader they do not stand independently as "great works." Should further study and reading persuade me otherwise, I cannot say. I would be willing to change my opinion in the future about "Theogony" and "Works and Days" as great works. but I will have to read much more to reach such a conclusion. If you, like I, have been reading chronologically beginning with Gilgamesh, I would recommend reading Hesiod's writings, as found in this LOEB edition.

13 people found this helpful

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sibylla11

good edition for students or casual scholars

Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2010

This is one of the 'newer' Loebs, with a very decent translation and some notes on textual variants. Like most Loebs, it has no extended apparatus criticus or commentary. A major bonus in this edition is the Testimonia section, with quotations from later ancient sources who reference Hesiod or his work. This product pales in comparison to the extensive ML West text and commentary (Oxford) but is a good starter edition.

11 people found this helpful

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Aaa

A literal translation

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2013

This book contains the two most well-known works of Hesiod, "Theogony" and "Works and Days". They are presented in both the original Greek (on the left-hand page) and in English translation (on the right-hand page). The translator is Glenn Most and his translation is very literal; for example, in "Works and Days" he uses the word "five-brancher" instead of "hand" in one context because it is more like the Greek, although most other translations would just say "hand".

In addition to Hesiod's two works, this volume also includes "Testimonia", which is a collection of short passages mentioning Hesiod. These passages are from Greek and Roman sources; I found the references by Plato to be interesting, but most of the others are not.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Alexandros Chronis

Very good translation & fast delivery

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2018

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Loeb translations are really very good for a better understanding. Hesiod's Theogony and Works and Days definitely recommended to everyone would like to learn Greek Mythology!

Ramon Carbo-Dorca

RCD

Reviewed in Spain on February 15, 2014

Verified Purchase

A very accurate and complete edition of esiod's Theogony. Compared with other translations this one can be considered on top.

Amazon Customer

Ancient Greek philosophy and religion.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2018

Verified Purchase

An essential volume for understanding how the ancient Greeks thought.