Year: 1988
Type: article
Abstract: T HE PROEM to the Theogony has often been analyzed both in terms of its formal structure and in relation to recurrent hymnic conventions;l it has also been interpreted as a fundamental statement of archaic Greek poetics. 2 While differing somewhat in its perspective, the present investigation builds on and complements those previous studies.Dedicated to the Muses, the patronesses of poetry, the opening of the Theogony repeatedly describes these divinities engaged in their characteristic activity, that is, singing.In the course of the proem, the Muses sing four times: once as they descend from Helicon (lines 11-21), twice on Olympus (44-50, 66f), and once as they make their way from their birthplace in Pieria and ascend to Olympus (71-75).In addition, the prologue describes the song the goddesses inspire in their servants, the aoidoi (99-101), as well as the song Hesiod requests that they sing for him, the invocation proper (105-15).My aim here is a simple one: to examine the texts and contexts of each of these songs and to compare them to the song the Muses instruct Hesiod to sing and the one he finally produces.
Author: Jenny Strauss Clay
Language: English
Topic: Classical Antiquity Studies
Subfield: Classics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W1546863681