The East Face of Helicon

The book explores the profound connections between early Greek poetry and ancient Near Eastern literatures, revealing their fundamental and pervasive nature. Martin West provides extensive documentation and a comprehensive survey of key figures, including Hesiod, the Homeric epics, lyric poets, and Aeschylus. The work culminates in a thought-provoking discussion on potential pathways of cultural transmission between the Orient and Greece, significantly advancing the understanding of these literary relationships.