Lykophron: Alexandra

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Lykophron Simon Hornblower (Professor of Classics and Ancient History, University of Oxford)

Lykophron

Alexandra

Lykophron, Simon Hornblower (Professor of Classics and Ancient History, University of Oxford)

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English

Oxford University Press
26 January 2023

Literature, Poetry & Criticism; Poetry; Literary studies: classical, early & medieval; Literary studies: poetry & poets

Series: Oxford World's Classics

Traditionally ascribed to the early third-century BCE tragedian Lykophron, the Alexandra is a powerful Greek poem by an unknown author, probably written c. 190, when Rome had defeated Hannibal and the Carthaginians and was poised to humble the Seleukid king Antiochos III. The poem is an ingeniously constructed masterpiece, a generic mix with elements of tragedy, epic, and history.

Priam's beautiful daughter, the prophetic Kassandra, foresees her rape in Athena's temple by the hateful Greek warrior Ajax after Troy's fall, and warns of disastrous returns (nostoi) for all the Greek 'heroes'. But Troy will rise again as Rome, founded by Trojan refugees. Alexandra (another name for Kassandra), narrates these Mediterranean foundation myths, adopting a bitterly disillusioned female perspective, but culminating in prophecies of Roman rule over land and sea.

By: Lykophron
Edited and translated by: Simon Hornblower (Professor of Classics and Ancient History University of Oxford)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 8mm
Weight: 140g
ISBN: 9780198863342
ISBN 10: 0198863349
Series: Oxford World's Classics
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 26 January 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Simon Hornblower held teaching and research posts at Oxford and UCL until retirement in 2016. He is a Fellow of the British Academy. His books include a large-scale scholarly edition, with commentary, of Lykophron's Alexandra (2015), and a monograph, Lykophron's Alexandra, Rome, and the Hellenistic World (2018); both Oxford University Press. His most recent book is a co-authored edition of and commentary on Livy Book 22.