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
This collection of short poems (epigrams) intricately weaves together dedications to the gods, epitaphs for the deceased and famous poets, pastoral landscapes, and mythic grief. The opening pieces present tranquil pastoral scenes surrounding the beautiful shepherd Daphnis, alongside prayers to gods like Pan and Priapus and laments for those who died young. In the middle section, the verses honor outstanding literary figures such as Anacreon and Archilochus, while also commemorating honest tradesmen and faithful nurses, vividly capturing ancient daily life and piety. The collection culminates in a longer narrative dialogue between Megara, the wife of Heracles, and his mother Alcmena. Together, they share their deep sorrows over the tragic loss of children caused by the hero's madness, their enduring loneliness, and ominous premonitions of the future, closing the work with a poignant exchange of grief and consolation.