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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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,… 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… Read more
