Translated by R. C. Jebb Revised by Roger Ceragioli Further Revised by Gregory Nagy Oedipus Child of a blind old man, Antigone, to what region have we come, or to what polis of men? Who will entertain the wandering Oedipus today with scanty gifts? 5 Little do I crave, and obtain still less than that little, and with that I am content. For patience is the… Read more
Eumenides By Aeschylus Translated by Herbert Weir Smyth Revised by Cynthia Bannon Further Revised by Gregory Nagy Pythia1 I give highest honor among the gods to Earth, the first seer [mantis]; and after her Themis, for she was the second to take the office of seer [manteion] that belonged to her mother, so goes the tale. Third, 5 with Themis willing, and with no… Read more
Translated by Jim Erdman Further Revised by Gregory Nagy At the tomb of Agamemnon. Orestes and Pylades enter. Orestes Hermes of the nether world, you who guard the powers [kratos] of the ancestors, prove yourself my savior [sōtēr] and ally, I entreat you, now that I have come to this land and returned from exile. On this mounded grave I cry out to my father to hearken, 5… Read more
Agamemnon By Aeschylus Translated by Herbert Weir Smyth Revised by Gregory Crane and Graeme Bird Further Revised by Gregory Nagy Upon the roof of the palace of Agamemnon at Argos. Watchman 1 I ask the gods for release from these ordeals [ponoi] of mine here. I have by now been a watchman here for the length of a whole year, during which time I have been… Read more
Alcman’s Partheneion Translated by Gregory Nagy The Partheneion ‘Maidens’ Song’ of Alcman (PMG 1), performed at a grand public festival in Sparta, on a seasonally-recurring basis, by a khoros ‘chorus, song-and-dance ensemble’ of local maidens specially selected for the occasion, who take on the roles of the names featured in the song. The two premier roles are Hagesikhora and Agido, who are to be two competing choral leaders. Note… Read more
Translated by Gregory Nagy Muse, tell me the things done by golden Aphrodite, the one from Cyprus, who arouses sweet desire for gods and who subdues the populations of mortal humans, and birds as well, who fly in the sky, as well as all beasts 5 —all those that grow on both dry land and the sea [pontos]. They all know the things done by the one… Read more
Translated by Gregory Nagy I begin to sing of Demeter, the holy goddess with the beautiful hair. And her daughter [Persephone] too. The one with the delicate ankles, whom Hādēs1 seized. She was given away by Zeus, the loud-thunderer, the one who sees far and wide. Demeter did not take part in this, she of the golden double-axe, she who glories in the harvest. 5 She [Persephone]… Read more
Translated by Gregory Nagy 1Muses of Pieria, you who make glory [kleos] with your songs, 2come and tell of Zeus, making a song about your father, 3on account of whom there are mortals both unworthy of talk and worthy,… Read more
1–115: Translated by Gregory Nagy 116–1022: Translated by J. Banks Adapted by Gregory Nagy Invocation Let me begin to sing of the Muses of Helikon, who abide on the great and holy Mount Helikon. Around the deep-blue spring, with dainty feet, they dance, and around the altar of the mighty son of Kronos. 5 Washing their tender skin in the waters of the Permessos or of the Horse’s… Read more
