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A must-read for all but not recommended without some guidance. From the very dawn of civilization, Homer provides us with a manifold source of knowledge to gain in a great variety of fields. They are powerful echoes from a deep past but are easily misinterpreted. Since it was the first of its kind and cannot be fully understood without historical, social, evolutionary context. Homer’s work goes beyond the telling of common themes of glory and valor. His epic poems revolutionized storytelling. One gets the distinct feeling that he made a conscious effort to have myth serve literature, not the other way around. The flat if superhuman characters of earlier myths, say the Gilgamesh Epos, the Atra-Hasis, or Enuma Elis, their one-dimensional recalling of events, their lack of sophisticated literary techniques that were considered sufficient to serve a myth of creation are replaced and superseded by Homer’s sophisticated literary structure with its well-developed characters exuding, for the first time, human qualities in such complexity that make them so recognizable. Homer’s characters have become ambassadors for eternity to come. Just consider Helen’s statement to Hector, “On us two Zeus has set a doom of misery, so that in time to come we can be themes of song for men of future generations”- Book 6. A prophetic statement, indeed. It is often said that we (the West) are all Greek, well then we (writers and authors) are all Homerians. Period Five excellent Homeric similes using "As... even so" construction: 1. As a mountain falcon, swiftest of all birds, swoops down upon some cowering dove - the dove flies before him but the falcon with a shrill scream follows close after, resolved to have her - even so did Achilles make straight for Hector with all his might, while Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could take him. [Book 22] 2. As a fire raging in some mountain glen after long drought - and the dense forest is in a blaze, while the wind carries great tongues of fire in every direction - even so furiously did Achilles rage, wielding his spear as though he were a superhuman force, and giving chase to those whom he would slay, till the dark earth ran with blood. [Book 20] 3. As two swart oxen both strain their utmost at the plow which they are drawing in a fallow field, and the sweat steams upwards from about the roots of their horns - nothing but the yoke divides them as they break up the ground till they reach the end of the field - even so did the two Ajaxes stand shoulder to shoulder by one another. [Book 13] 4. As when the mighty sea that thunders on the beach when the west wind has lashed it into fury, it has reared its head afar and now comes crashing down on the shore; it bows its arching crest high over the jagged rocks and spews its salt foam in all directions, even so did the serried phalanxes of the Danaans march steadfastly to battle. [Book 4] 5. As when a man gives a great ox-hide all drenched in fat to his men, and bids them stretch it; whereon they stand round it in a ring and tug till the moisture leaves it, and the fat soaks in for the many that pull at it, and it is well stretched - even so did the two sides tug the dead body hither and thither within the compass of but a little space - the Trojans steadfastly set on dragging it into Ilion, while the Achaeans were no less so on taking it to their ships; and fierce was the fight between them. [Book 17]
Propulsive ... Wilson’s translation of Homeric Greek is always buoyant and expressive. There are occasional slips in register that seem a little out of place ... But Wilson wants this version to be read aloud, and it would certainly be fun to perform. Stands out because her command of ancient Greek vocabulary, dialects, metres and even the manuscript tradition lends authority to every aesthetic decision she has made ... But her learning would count for little if the translation itself did not seduce with its crystalline clarity, elegance, sensuality, sometimes breathless pace and above all emotional clout ... Of course, there are places where I personally would have preferred a different choice ... Dynamic. Reads very well, even the rather technical wounding, and the metre mostly holds up. There are many omissions, but none seriously affecting meaning. After all, it’s the readability for those who do not know Greek that counts ... Wilson’s introduction and helpful notes to the text (at the back) usher in a wide range of technical, historical, cultural and literary issues ... Belongs to SeriesBelongs to Publisher SeriesAustral (337) — 48 more Colecção História da Literatura (Livro 41) Crisol (140) L'esparver clàssic (19) Everyman's Library (453) insel taschenbuch (0153) Letras Universales (101) Lobe Classical Library (170) Penguin Classics (L014) Penguin Clothbound Classics (2014) Salamanderpockets (759) The World's Classics (18) Is contained inGreat Books Of The Western World - 54 Volume Set, Incl. 10 Vols of Great Ideas Program & 10 Volumes Gateway To Great Books by Robert Maynard Hutchins (indirect) GREAT BOOKS OF THE WESTERN WORLD--54 Volumes 27 volumes 1961-1987 GREAT IDEAS TODAY (Yearbooks) 10 volumes GATEWAY TO THE GREAT BOOKS 10 volumes GREAT IDEAS PROGRAM. Total 101 Volumes. by Robert Maynard Hutchins (indirect) ContainsIs retold inTroy by Adèle Geras Has the (non-series) sequelHas the (non-series) prequelIs an adaptation ofHas the adaptationThe Graphic Canon, Vol. 1: From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Shakespeare to Dangerous Liaisons by Russ Kick Is abridged inIs expanded inIs parodied inInspiredIlium by Dan Simmons Has as a reference guide/companionHas as a studyHas as a supplementHas as a commentary on the textHas as a student's study guideHas as a teacher's guideAwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
Fiction.
Poetry.
Folklore.
HTML: An epic tale of love and betrayal, war and hope The Iliad is the first of two legendary ancient poems attributed to the Greek bard Homer. Typically dated between the 8th and 7th centuries BC it is believed by many to be the earliest extant piece of European literature. The poem deals with the exploits of Agamemnon, Odysseus, Achilles, Ajax and their comrades in the final year of their siege of the city of Troy. .No library descriptions found.
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LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumHomer's book The Iliad was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Current Discussions"Best" translation of Iliad & Odyssey? in Folio Society Devotees Popular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)883.01Literature Greek and other Classical languages Prose and Fiction, Classical Greek Pseudo-CallisthenesLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. Penguin Australia5 editions of this book were published by Penguin Australia. Editions: 0140275363, 0140445927, 0140447946, 0140444440, 0451530691 HighBridgeAn edition of this book was published by HighBridge. HighBridge AudioAn edition of this book was published by HighBridge Audio. Tantor MediaAn edition of this book was published by Tantor Media. |
A must-read for all but not recommended without some guidance. From the very dawn of civilization, Homer provides us with a manifold source of knowledge to gain in a great variety of fields. They are powerful echoes from a deep past but are easily misinterpreted.
Since it was the first of its kind and cannot be fully understood without historical, social, evolutionary context.
Homer’s work goes beyond the telling of common themes of glory and valor. His epic poems revolutionized storytelling. One gets the distinct feeling that he made a conscious effort to have myth serve literature, not the other way around. The flat if superhuman characters of earlier myths, say the Gilgamesh Epos, the Atra-Hasis, or Enuma Elis, their one-dimensional recalling of events, their lack of sophisticated literary techniques that were considered sufficient to serve a myth of creation are replaced and superseded by Homer’s sophisticated literary structure with its well-developed characters exuding, for the first time, human qualities in such complexity that make them so recognizable.
Homer’s characters have become ambassadors for eternity to come. Just consider Helen’s statement to Hector, “On us two Zeus has set a doom of misery, so that in time to come we can be themes of song for men of future generations”- Book 6. A prophetic statement, indeed.
It is often said that we (the West) are all Greek, well then we (writers and authors) are all Homerians. ( )