Traditionally ascribed to the early third-century BCE tragedian Lykophron, the Alexandra is a powerful Greek poem by an unknown author, probably written c. 190, when Rome had defeated Hannibal and the Carthaginians and was poised to humble the Seleukid king Antiochos III. The poem is an ingeniously constructed masterpiece, a generic mix with elements of tragedy, epic, and history. Priam's beautiful daughter, the prophetic Kassandra, foresees her rape in Athena's temple by the hateful Greek warrior Ajax after Troy's fall, and warns of disastrous returns (nostoi) for all the Greek 'heroes'. But Troy will rise again as Rome, founded by Trojan refugees. Alexandra (another name for Kassandra), narrates these Mediterranean foundation myths, adopting a bitterly disillusioned female perspective, but culminating in prophecies of Roman rule over land and sea.

About the Author
Simon Hornblower held teaching and research posts at Oxford and UCL until retirement in 2016. He is a Fellow of the British Academy. His books include a large-scale scholarly edition, with commentary, of Lykophron's Alexandra (2015), and a monograph, Lykophron's Alexandra, Rome, and the Hellenistic World (2018); both Oxford University Press. His most recent book is a co-authored edition of and commentary on Livy Book 22.


Book Information
ISBN 9780198863342
Author Lykophron
Format Paperback
Page Count 192
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 140g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 8mm