Source edition
Theocritus. The Idylls of Theocritus. Cholmeley, Roger James, editor. London: George Bell and Sons, Ltd.,1901-1919.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
The "Idylls" is a collection of poems that laid the foundation for the pastoral genre in Western literature. Set against the lush backdrops of Sicily and Cos, many of these poems depict shepherds and goatherds engaging in friendly singing competitions or lamenting their unrequited loves. Rich with mythological themes, the collection features famous stories such as the tragic fate of Daphnis and the cyclops Polyphemus's awkward courtship of the sea-nymph Galatea. Beyond the tranquil countryside, the work also explores the bustling urban life of Alexandrian housewives, epic retellings of heroic myths like those of Heracles, and formal panegyrics dedicated to contemporary rulers. Through sophisticated verse, these poems vividly capture the diverse spectrum of human emotion, the complexities of desire, and the enduring beauty of the natural world.
Contents
44 chunks
Cited by poem.line
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