Despite widespread interest in the Greek hero as a cult figure,
little was written about the relationship between the cult
practices and the portrayals of the hero in poetry. The first
edition of The Best of the Achaeans bridged that gap, raising new
questions about what could be known or conjectured about Greek
heroes. In this revised edition, which features a new preface by
the author, Gregory Nagy reconsiders his conclusions in the light
of the subsequent debate and resumes his discussion of the special
status of heroes in ancient Greek life and poetry. His book remains
an engaging introduction both to the concept of the hero in
Hellenic civilization and to the poetic forms through which the
hero is defined: the Iliad and Odyssey in particular and archaic
Greek poetry in general.
Praise for the first edition: "This is a learned, clever, and
disturbing book... One is left with the uneasy feeling that
curtains have parted in the wind, giving glimpses of unsuspected
realities behind the apparently simple face of Greek heroic
poetry." -- M. L. West, Times Literary Supplement
Gregory Nagy's book is brilliant, original, and filled with
powerful, central, and useful insights. To read it with attention
is to experience a radical revision of one's own view of early
Greek poetry and of the primary themes of Greek culture." -- James
Redfield, University of Chicago
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