Callimachus was one of the most important and influential writers in the ancient world. He was the outstanding poet of the Hellenistic period, and had a profound effect on the subsequent course of Greek and Roman literature. The hymns are intricate, allusive and difficult poetry, and need elucidation for the modern reader. Dr Hopkinson has established a new text of Callimachus' Sixth Hymn, The Hymn to Demeter, which is printed here with a facing English translation. In his thorough analysis of the poem it is the editor's aim to show how Callimachus adapts and borrows from Homer and other...
Callimachus was one of the most important and influential writers in the ancient world. He was the outstanding poet of the Hellenistic period, and had...