There was a very interesting previous discussion in this forum about Modern Greek some time ago (1) and I’d like to add 3 links where reasons are shown why someone interested in ancient Greece might like to learn Modern Greek. In the first one (2) an excellent list of Greek learning resources (both Ancient and Modern Greek) is shown, with reasons for learning the modern language, an interesting point about “reverse chronological reading” together with the author’s proposal to someone starting from scratch to learn it even before the ancient version!!. The second link (3) is to a very clear and nice essay on the importance of Modern Greek and the reasons for not yet “having a seat at the classicists’ table”. The last link (4) is to a fine group of interviews where top professors are shown talking (in modern Greek) about a single language… Greek!. I have also included the first sentence of three literary pieces together with their Modern Greek version just as a place for reflection on differences and similarities between both.
Apollodorus’ bibliotheca (c 150 BC) (5):
Ancient Greek: Οὐρανὸς πρῶτος τοῦ παντὸς ἐδυνάστευσε κόσμου.
Modern Greek: Ο πρώτος άρχοντας του σύμπαντος ήταν ο Ουρανός.
Arrian’s anabasis of Alexander (c 120 AD) (6):
Ancient Greek: Πτολεμαῖος ὁ Λάγου καὶ Ἀριστόβουλος ὁ Ἀριστοβούλου ὅσα μὲν ταὐτὰ ἄμφω περὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ Φιλίππου συνέγραψαν, ταῦτα ἐγώ ὡς πάντῃ ἀληθῇ ἀναγράφω, ὅσα δὲ οὐ ταὐτά, τούτων τὰ πιστότερα ἐμοὶ φαινόμενα καὶ ἅμα ἀξιαφηγητότερα ἐπιλεξάμενος.
Modern Greek: Ο Πτολεμαίος, ο γιος του Λάγου, και ο Αριστόβουλος του Αριστοβούλου, όσα έγραψαν ίδια οι δυο τους για τον Αλέξανδρο, το γιο του Φιλίππου, αυτά εγώ τα γράφω ως εντελώς αληθινά, όσα όμως δε συνφωνούν μεταξύ τους, απ’αυτά (κατάγρφω), αφού επέλεξα, όσα μου φαίνονται περισσότερο αξιόπιστα και ταυτόχρονα περισσότερο άξια εξιστόρησης.
Plato’s Crito (c 360 BC) (7):
Ancient Greek: Τί τηνικάδε ἀφίξαι, ὦ Κρίτων; ἢ οὐ πρῲ ἔτι ἐστίν;
Modern Greek: Γιατί ήρθες τέτοια ώρα, Κρίτωνα; Ή δεν είναι πια πρωί;
(1) http://discourse.textkit.com/t/greek-and-latin-learning-via-skype-classics-at-home/13582/1
(2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AelM2zyv5Us
(3) https://eidolon.pub/on-not-knowing-modern-greek-8611bc8151eb?gi=11302071bf9f
(4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBNjNpeoP0Q
(5) http://www.politeianet.gr/books/9789608437098-arrianos-zitros-arrianos-alexandrou-anabasis-protos-tomos-140316
(6) http://www.politeianet.gr/books/9789607318879-apollodoros-ekdotiki-thessalonikis-apollodorou-bibliothiki-56257
(7) http://www.politeianet.gr/books/9789608437005-platon-zitros-platon-apologia-sokratous-kriton-194295