Hellenistic Poetry and Art

The Hellenistic age is the link between classical Greece and Rome. Originally published in 1964, this book traces the history of Hellenistic poetry and art as parallel phenomena. It starts in mainland Greece with New Comedy, Anyte, and Aratos and discusses the art of the Tanagra figurines and the Pella mosaics. Successive chapters deal with the major figures of Alexandrian art down to the end of the second century B.C. In Asia Minor (except for Kos and Rhodes, already treated with Alexandria) the art is more significant than the poetry, particularly the art of Pergamon, but Antipater of Sidon and Meleager of Gadara are important poets, who are treated in some detail. The mainland Greek story is continued with Kleanthes, Leonidas, Euphorion, and the later mainland poets, and with the neo-Classical style in art, which gives place to the archaistic mannerism of the neo-Attic style at the end of the second century. The last chapter deals with poetry and art in Italy; first with the early Hellenistic civilization of Sicily and Southern Italy, and then with the successive waves of Greek influence on the Romans. This history of Roman poetry down to Catullus is viewed from the angle of its indebtedness to Greek sources, and in conclusion the import of works of art and the later immigration of Greek artists is taken into consideration.

About the Author

T. B. L. (Thomas Bertram Lonsdale) Webster (1905–1974) was a British archaeologist and classicist, particularly interested in Greek comedy. He started his career as Hulme Professor of Greek at Manchester University, where he remained for seventeen years. He then moved on to the chair of Greek at University College London, where he established the London Institute of Classical Studies. His final position was at Stanford University where he was Professor of Classics, Emeritus.