The Homeric Hymns
12/01/2018
The Homeric Hymns (Greek: Ομηρικοί Ύμνοι) are a selection of hymns to the Greek Gods which, though attributed to Homer in antiquity, probably date to somewhat later in the archaic period. A few may even have been added in the Hellenistic period.
Their identification with Homer reflects the fact they were composed in dactylic hexameter, the same metre as the Iliad and Odyssey.
The hymns vary in length and state of preservation. Some of the longer narratives such as the Hymn to Demeter, are important for the understanding of the subject god or goddess.
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Free online texts
Aoidoi: Homeric Hymns
Bartleby: Hesiod, Homeric Hymns, Epic Cycle, Homerica, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. HTML format.
Gutenberg: Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns and Homerica, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Multiple formats.
Gutenberg: The Homeric Hymns - A New Prose Translation; and Essays, Literary and Mythological, by Andrew Lang. Multiple formats.
Internet Archive: Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns and Homerica. Greek text and English translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Multiple formats.
Loebulus. L496 - Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica. PDF of public domain Loeb edition in Greek and English.
Perseus: Homeric Hymns - Greek texts, edited by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. HTML and XML formats.
Theoi: Homeric Hymns, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. HTML format.
University of Adelaide: Hesiod, Homeric Hymns, and Homerica, by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Multiple formats.
Wikisource: Ομηρικοί Ύμνοι. Greek text. HTML and other formats.
Other Resources
Center for Hellenic Studies: The earliest phases in the reception of the Homeric Hymns, by Gregory Nagy.
Coursera: Greek and Roman Mythology, Lecture 46 - 6.1 Introduction to the Homeric Hymns, by Peter Struck, University of Pennsylvania. Also available at YouTube.
Librivox: Homeric Hymns, Epigrams, and The Battle of Frogs and Mice - public domain audiobook.
Mythtake: 18. Homeric Hymn to Dionysus, podcast by Darrin Sunstrum and Alison Innes.
Wikipedia: Homeric Hymns
The Great Conversation: Further reading at Tom's Learning Notes
Thucydides: The History of the Peloponnesian War - quotes from the Homeric Hymn to Apollo in Book III, Chapter 104.
Ancient Greek resources: Learn to read Greek classics in the original.
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