Hi everyone,
I just wonder which book is the best one in the case of Greek Meter to rely on? I have West’s; is that enough or what else?
for a pre-advanced greek reader which edition of Illiad and Odessy do you suggest?
West wrote two books, “Introduction to Greek Metre” and “Greek Metre”, which one do you have? I think with either of them, you have all the information you need, but you might find the second one overwhelming, in which case I recommend the first one, which is more manageable for us normal mortals.
The current go-to scholarly edition is West’s, for both texts. But most editions published in the last 100 years should do (just avoid the French Budé edition for the Odyssey). The more important question is what other materials you’ll be studying alongside the Greek text. Do you read German?
Earlier threads on the subject:
http://discourse.textkit.com/t/editions-of-the-odyssey/12577/1
http://discourse.textkit.com/t/materials-for-reading-homer-in-greek/11836/1
http://discourse.textkit.com/t/recommended-editions-of-the-iliad-and-odyssey/13407/1
Yes, definitely West on meter, his Introduction book probably enough (though as a non-normal mortal I use the other). You shouldn’t need anything else, but be aware that other handbooks use somewhat different terminology for some things.
Incidentally, if you want to be regarded as a pre-advanced Greek reader you will not write Illiad and Odessy.
If you want a very concise summary of the bare basics, you can’t go past the entry on Greek Metre in the Oxford Classical Dictionary by Laetitia Parker (DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.4167). An equally excellent and concise introduction to prosody (and the metres of tragedy) can be found in the introductions to that authors editions of Euripides - Alcestis (OUP 2005) and Iphigenia in Tauris (OUP 2016).
For more comprehensive treatments there is of course West in English. I second Paul’s statement that Greek Metre might be a tad overwhelming for someone new to metrics. Even West’s Introduction is heavy going.
If you read Italian I would strongly recommend Martinelli Gli Strumenti del Poeta (Capelli 2012). Here you can find an extensive bibliography/guide to further reading organised with respect to genre, metre, and author. If you’re particularly interested in Homer you can take a look at what Martinelli lists there.