Aratus

An ancient Greek guide to the heavens, translated in a new accessible modern English edition.   A poetic guide to the heavens, the Phaenomena of Aratus—dating from around 270 BCE—was widely known across the ancient world, second only in fame to the works of Homer. Beginning with an invocation to Zeus, the poem describes the constellations of the northern and southern skies, the celestial sphere, and weather signs. Aratus’s vivid work offered a complete handbook of astronomy, constellations, and weather, and this treatise on the night sky was later translated or adapted by luminaries including Cicero, Virgil, and Ovid. The Phaenomena remained popular throughout the Renaissance and had more than sixty printed editions by the early seventeenth century, but its fame has faded in the modern world.   With this edition, renowned translator and amateur astronomer Stanley Lombardo renders Aratus’s poem in reader-friendly vernacular English verse. Complete with endnotes, an accessible introduction, and astronomically accurate illustrations, The Sky Is Our Song brings this master poet’s celebration of the sky to a twenty-first-century audience, inviting new readers to follow Aratus on a visual journey through star signs, moon phases, weather phenomena, and all wonders of the heavens.

Aratus of Soli was a third century BC didactic poet at the court of Antigonus Gonatas of Macedonia, where he wrote his famous astronomical poem ‘Phaenomena’ (Appearances). It describes the constellations and other celestial phenomena, while the latter section is chiefly concerned with weather lore. Aratus’ poem was extremely popular both in the Greek and Roman world, as demonstrated by the large number of commentaries and Latin translations. He enjoyed immense prestige among Hellenistic poets, including Theocritus, Callimachus and Leonidas of Tarentum. This assessment was passed on to the Latin writers, notably influencing Ovid, Virgil and Cicero. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the wisdom of the Classical world, with both English translations and the original Greek texts. This comprehensive eBook presents Aratus’ complete extant works, with illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Aratus’ life and works* Features the complete extant works of Aratus, in both English translation and the original Greek* Concise introduction to the text* Provides both verse (John Lamb, 1848) and prose (G. R. Mair, 1921) translations of ‘Phaenomena’* Includes Mair’s translation, previously appearing in the Loeb Classical Library edition of Aratus* Excellent formatting of the texts* Easily locate the sections you want to read with individual contents tables* Provides a special dual English and Greek text, allowing readers to compare the sections paragraph by paragraph — ideal for students* Features a bonus biography — discover Aratus’ ancient worldPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to explore our range of Ancient Classics titles or buy the entire series as a Super SetCONTENTS:The TranslationsAppearancesThe Greek TextThe Greek TextThe Dual TextDual Greek and English TextThe BiographyThe Life of Aratus (1848) by John Lamb