Bion of Smyrna: The Fragments and the Adonis

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The work of Bion of Smyrna, the late Hellenistic writer of bucolic poetry, survives in seventeen fragments and the longer Epitaph on Adonis. In this edition, J. D. Reed presents a Greek text of the poems together with a facing translation. The substantial introduction covers Bion's place in the bucolic tradition, his reinterpretation of ritual and myth in the Adonis poem (with attention to its social context), and various aspects of his style. It also includes a detailed examination of the textual transmission. The commentary investigates fully details arising from the texts, with an emphasis on linguistic and literary-historical issues. This is a comprehensive treatment of Bion, his poetry and his place in the literary tradition.