Date of Award
2009
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Shaw, Carl
Keywords
HOMERIC HYMN TO HERMES, Iambic Poetry, Archaic Greece
Area of Concentration
Classics
Abstract
The Homeric Hymn to Hermes is often marginalized in considerations of the Homeric Hymns and archaic Greek poetry in general on the basis of its anomalous diction and content. This thesis aims to restore some centrality to the hymn by situating it in relation to archaic iambic poetry and the archaic Greek concept of blame more generally. This thesis argues that iambic poetry's verbal invective and obscenity account for much of the hymn's non-epic diction and playful tone. The first chapter provides a reconstruction of iambic poetry and details its poets, conventions, and principal characteristics. The second chapter highlights iambic language in the hymn. And the third chapter strengthens the relationship between the hymn and iambic poetry by situating both inside of a like sympotic performance context.
Recommended Citation
Boner, Justin, "The HOMERIC HYMN TO HERMES and Archaic Iambography" (2009). Theses & ETDs. 4063.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4063