Iliad, Vol. 1
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Perhaps the best-known and most influential of the Greek epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey stand in a class by themselves. The poems are the oldest existing works of Western literature. Their style and content played such an important role in shaping subsequent Greek culture that Homer was often called the teacher of Greece. The style of Greek used in the works has become its own form or dialect, known as Homeric Greek. Like the works of Cicero, the Iliad and the Odyssey are studied for their eloquent use of language. Innumerable works of literature, theater, and poetry have been written based on or responding to the Iliad and the Odyssey. The influence carries right up to our own day. One of the most important literary work of the twentieth century, James Joyce’s Ulysses, is a direct and intentional parallel of the Odyssey (Ulysses is the Latin version of Odysseus, the main character in the Odyssey). This volume contains A. T. Murray’s English translation of the first volume of Homer’s Iliad.
Top Highlights
“The Homeric criticism of the century following the publication of Wolf’s Prolegomena (1795), for all the keenness of its analytical studies, lost sight almost wholly of the poet as a creative artist. It is time that we came back to the poetry itself and to the poet, who alone can interpret it aright.” (Pages ix–x)
“Then in answer to him spake swift-footed Achilles:” (Page 405)
“Nor will it matter how many or how learned may be the scholars who hold that view. The poet has taught us better, and the poet is our guide.” (Page ix)
“Nay, for whoso is a true man and sound of mind, loveth his own and cherisheth her, even as I too loved her with all my heart, though she was but the captive of my spear. But now, seeing he hath taken from my arms my prize, and hath deceived me, let him not tempt me that know him well; he shall not persuade me.” (Page 407)
“Calchas first of all he spake, and his look boded bane: ‘Prophet of evil, never yet hast thou spoken to me the thing that is good; ever is evil dear to thy heart to prophesy, but a word of good hast thou never yet spoken, neither brought to pass.” (Page 11)
