Cyclic verse.Greek epics of the archaic period include poems that narrate a particular heroic episode or series of episodes and poems that recount the long-term history of families …
Scurrilous verse.The poetry of the archaic period that the Greeks called iambic is characterized by scornful criticism of friend and foe and by sexual license. The purpose of these …
The master of Old Comedy.Aristophanes of Athens, one of the world’s greatest comic dramatists, has been admired since antiquity for his iridescent wit and beguiling fantasy, …
The private correspondence of Rome’s most prolific public figure.To his dear friend Atticus, Cicero reveals himself as to no other of his correspondents except perhaps his brother. …
The hero’s journey home from war.Here is a new Loeb Classical Library edition of the resplendent epic tale of Odysseus’ long journey home from the Trojan War and the legendary …
Invocations, curiosities, and biographies connected with the famous Greek bard.Performances of Greek epics customarily began with a hymn to a god or goddess—as Hesiod's Theogony …
Noble verse.The Greek poetry of the archaic period that we call elegy was composed primarily for banquets and convivial gatherings. Its subject matter consists of almost any topic, …
The private correspondence of Rome’s most prolific public figure. To his dear friend Atticus, Cicero reveals himself as to no other of his correspondents except perhaps his …
The preeminent lyric poet of ancient Greece.Of the Greek lyric poets, Pindar (ca. 518–438 BC) was “by far the greatest for the magnificence of his inspiration” in Quintilian’s …
Ancient Athens’ most successful tragedian.Sophocles (497/6–406 BC), the second of the three great tragedians of Athens and by common consent one of the world's greatest poets, …
