Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Principal dates
- Bibliographical note
- Glossary
- Table of equivalents
- Part I Early poetry
- Homer
- Hesiod
- Archilochus
- Tyrtaeus
- Solon
- Theognis
- Hymn to Hephaestus
- Simonides
- Xenophanes
- Pindar
- Part II Tragedy
- Part III History and folklore
- Part IV Philosophy and science
- Part V Sophists
- Index
- Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought
Hymn to Hephaestus
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Principal dates
- Bibliographical note
- Glossary
- Table of equivalents
- Part I Early poetry
- Homer
- Hesiod
- Archilochus
- Tyrtaeus
- Solon
- Theognis
- Hymn to Hephaestus
- Simonides
- Xenophanes
- Pindar
- Part II Tragedy
- Part III History and folklore
- Part IV Philosophy and science
- Part V Sophists
- Index
- Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought
Summary
This short piece is preserved with a group of hymns attributed to Homer, but most probably date from the seventh or sixth centuries. Hephaestus is the smith-god; in the Iliad he forges Achilles' elaborate new armor.
Sing, Muse with clear voice, of Hephaestus, famed for inventiveness,
who together with gray-eyed Athena taught glorious crafts (erga)
to mortals on earth. In earlier times they lived
in caves on mountains like wild beasts,
but now they have learned crafts because of Hephaestus, famed for skill
and thus all year long they pass their lives
easily, without care in their own houses.
Look favorably on me, Hephaestus, and grant me aretē and prosperity.
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- Information
- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1995