Voci del passato

In Voci del passato, classical scholar Lorenzo Braccesi gathers and revisits a corpus of fragmentary, anonymous Greek poetic texts transmitted through the prose works of Herodotus and Pausanias. Rather than offering strictly literal translations, Braccesi employs rhythmic Italian verse structures, primarily combining hendecasyllables and septenaries, to make these obscure passages accessible to modern readers. The anthology centers on Pythian oracles, prophetic utterances, epitaphs, and celebratory inscriptions that illuminate key moments and figures of ancient Greek history. Divided into two main sections dedicated to Herodotus and Pausanias respectively, the work recontextualizes these poetic fragments—frequently overshadowed by their prose narratives—into a unified poetic collection. Featuring a preface by Gianni D'Elia and an afterword by Giorgio Bàrberi Squarotti, the volume highlights the enduring dialogue between history, myth, and poetic form in classical antiquity.