The Homeric Hymns

‘It is of you the poet sings …
at the beginning and at the end
it is always of you’

Written by unknown poets in the sixth and seventh centuries BC, the thirty-three Homeric Hymns were recited at festivals to honour the Olympian goddesses and gods, and to pray for divine favour or for victory in singing contests. They stand now as works of great poetic force, full of grace and lyricism, and ranging in tone from irony to solemnity, ebullience to grandeur. Recounting significant episodes from mythology, such as the abduction of Persephone by Hades and Hermes’ theft of Apollo’s cattle, the Hymns also provide fascinating insights into cults, rituals and holy sanctuaries, giving us an intriguing view of the ancient Greek relationship between humans and the divine.

This translation of the Homeric Hymns is new to Penguin Classics, providing a key text for understanding ancient Greek mythology and religion. The introduction explores their authorship, performance, literary qualities and influence on later writers.