Preferred 'Odyssey' Reading For NuGrkStu ???

Are you reading Homeric Greek? Whether you are a total beginner or an advanced Homerist, here you can meet kindred spirits. Besides Homer, use this board for all things early Greek poetry.
Post Reply
NuGrkStu
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2017 3:42 am

Preferred 'Odyssey' Reading For NuGrkStu ???

Post by NuGrkStu »

Could someone recommend the best way to read Homer's 'Odyssey' by recommending a good translation and supplemental materials?

What I mean is my default is to buy from the Loeb Classic Library however I've found it hard to find translations supplied on the opposing page. Others have recommended other greek 'interliniear' translations of homer's 'odyssey' which may be better. Also would you suggest a 'lexicon' with whichever 'odyssey' version you'd recommend or will the interlinear make things obvious?

Regards

Hylander
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 2504
Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2015 1:16 pm

Re: Preferred 'Odyssey' Reading For NuGrkStu ???

Post by Hylander »

Stay away from interlinears!

Either use the Loeb or get a Greek text and a good English translation. Why not just get the Greek text and try it without translation? Get an annotated edition. You'll be surprised at your progress.

The best lexicon, which will make life much easier than using Liddell & Scott, is Cunliffe. It's worth owning a copy if you're serious about reading Homer in the original.

https://www.amazon.com/Lexicon-Homeric- ... fe+lexicon

You can find a used copy at Amazon or ABEBooks. You don't necessarily need the "expanded edition".

Stanford's annotated edition of the Odyssey in two volumes, with Greek text, would be useful.

https://www.amazon.com/Homer-Odyssey-I- ... y+stanford

https://www.amazon.com/Homer-Odyssey-XI ... y+stanford

Stay away from interlinears!
Bill Walderman

User avatar
Paul Derouda
Global Moderator
Posts: 2292
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 9:39 pm

Re: Preferred 'Odyssey' Reading For NuGrkStu ???

Post by Paul Derouda »

I'd say the Loeb translation is hands down the best literal "crib" translation. Just make sure you get the new version that was revised in the 90's and not the original one, which is full of archaizing thees and thous and suchlike. Another prose translation I particularly recommend is Walter Shewring's. I've seen many English translations of the Odyssey and I think this one best conveys in good English what the Greek "really says", without following the Greek idiom too literally. Many especially poetic translations might be very nice to read, but not all are much help for the Greek; many of them are not very exact and some even give the impression that the translator doesn't know Greek very well. Looking at Shewring's choices at difficult passages, it's obvious that he knew very well not only Greek but also Homeric scholarship. So my tip is to get the Loeb translation for help with the Greek syntax and Shewring to help understand the larger context. Generally I like to have two different translations for texts that are difficult for me; that helps me to see the difficult bits from two different angles. Hylander is probably right about interlinears: avoid.

I agree about Cunliffe, it's an absolute must. Mine has fallen into pieces long ago due to heavy use, but it's also possible to access it online: http://stephanus.tlg.uci.edu/cunliffe/# ... ontext=lsj. Authenrieth's lexicon isn't as good but it's included (along with LSJ and others) if you download an iPhone app called Logeion.

If you happen to know German, Ameis, Hentze & Cauer's very old but excellent commentaries, originally written for 19th century schoolboys, are still very helpful. Otherwise I think Hylander is right to recommend Stanford. There's a three volume Oxford commentary on the whole Odyssey and several Cambridge "Green and Yellow" commentaries on individual books, but those are probably too advanced for you, depending on your level.

There's a commented Greek text of the first two books of the Odyssey by Peter Jones aimed especially at students coming to Homer for the first time. I haven't used it myself, but I've found other texts written by Jones helpful. https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-2-Set-Pe ... eter+jones

You could check this earlier thread as well: http://www.textkit.com/greek-latin-foru ... 22&t=60233.

Hylander
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 2504
Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2015 1:16 pm

Re: Preferred 'Odyssey' Reading For NuGrkStu ???

Post by Hylander »

I wonder whether the textkit gods could pin viewtopic.php?f=22&t=60233 at the head of this forum.
Bill Walderman

User avatar
Paul Derouda
Global Moderator
Posts: 2292
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 9:39 pm

Re: Preferred 'Odyssey' Reading For NuGrkStu ???

Post by Paul Derouda »

Hylander wrote:I wonder whether the textkit gods could pin viewtopic.php?f=22&t=60233 at the head of this forum.
Good idea. I tried but I couldn't find how to do it. Maybe someone else?

Post Reply