A curious ride written 1500 years ago and already then decadent in its relation to the myths, which by the way is made extremely clear by the unflattering introduction by H.J. Rose, not to mention the critical notes throughout the work. One appreciates the facts and clarifications, only the sarcastic tone strikes one a bit odd at first, but then becomes a small source of entertainment in itself. That aside, even the translator includes an apologetic note in the beginning, although he naturally must love the work sufficiently to endure such a vast translation project. One could say that it's hard to come across a work that appears less encouraging to get on with… -- But that's all part of the fascinating backwardness of this work. I'd come across fragments of the battle between Typhoeus and Zeus (Books I-II of XXXXVIII) and those were branded on my
mind from the first moment -- and I'm glad I didn't hesitate to acquire this three-volume set -- freshly having finished Ovid's ”Metamorphoses” in the same deliciously dry but equally competent Loeb series. ”Dionysiaca” is wild, confusing, occasionally a bit exhausting but this is only to gain strength for the next odd leap in the storyline that culminates in Dionysos’ war against the Indians. Where Nonnos fails in mythological accuracy (remember, this was written 500 years after Ovid, and all in all 700 years after the veneration of the Greek gods fell into disuse), he gains with his unrestrained imagination and often movie-like drama. -- For more information about this wonderfully obscure work, see http://www.rochester.edu/College/translation/threepercent/index.php?id=3139