Homeric hymn to Apollo: introduction and commentary on lines 1-178

Chapter 1: Unity. This chapter surveys the various arguments (formal, religious, geographical, etc.) that have been adduced to prove that DAp and PAp did not always form a single unified hymn. It is argued that these are all insufficient and that the hymn should be considered an original unity. Chapter 2: Structure. This chapter analyses the hymn’s double structure, noting the numerous close correspondences between its two parts and some of the major devices (priamel, apostrophe, journeys) that are used to signal divisions. Chapter 3: Date and Context. This chapter discusses the evidence for the dating of the hymn and for its context. Most of the supposed historical allusions are discounted as highly dubious. The hymn’s description of the Delian festival (147-76) suggests it had some original link to Delos, but this would not exclude later performances elsewhere. It is tentatively suggested that the hymn’s particular blend of Delian and Pythian themes would suit a Delian performance in the second half of the sixth century, perhaps in connection with the activities of the tyrants Peisistratus or Polycrates. Chapter 4: Authorship. This chapter discusses the poet’s description of himself as the ‘blind Chian’ (172-3). It is argued that this reflects, and seeks to promote, an already existing legend about Homer, that this legend was at least partly fostered by the guild of Chian rhapsodes called Homeridae, and that therefore the ancient attribution of the hymn to the Homerid Cynaethus, which would not be incompatible with its likely date, may be tentatively accepted. Chapter 5: Language. This chapter discusses the hymn’s language relative to the rest of early Greek hexameter poetry. Some signs of post-Homeric diction are noted. The difficulties of using language to construct a relative chronology of early epos are discussed. Doubt is cast upon the linguistic evidence for the hymn’s division. Non-Homeric and non-Hesiodic forms are assembled and briefly examined. The large number of parallels with the Homeric poems are assessed and it is suggested that, while much of this material is probably traditional, a close relationship between HAp and these poems is possible at certain points. Chapter 6: Metre and Prosody. This chapter analyses the hymn’s inner and outer metric, and certain prosodic features. In most cases its practice does not diverge significantly from that of Homer and the other Hymns. Chapter 7: Text and Transmission. This chapter summarises the hymn’s textual transmission. Places where the commentary diverges from Càssola’s text are noted. Chapter 8. Commentary on lines 1-178.