Iliad, Book 1

by Pamela Ann Draper (Editor)

Homer's Iliad has captivated readers and influenced writers and artists for more than two thousand years. Reading the poem in its original language provides an experience as challenging as it is rewarding. Most students encountering Homeric Greek for the first time need considerable help, especially with vocabulary and constructions that differ from the more familiar Attic forms. For anyone who has completed studies in elementary Greek, this edition provides the assistance necessary to read, understand, and appreciate the first book of the Iliad in its original language.
Structured to maximize reading ease, P. A. Draper's volume stands out among introductions to the Greek Iliad . Readers of this edition will appreciate the positioning of all notes facing the Greek text; the frequent vocabulary entries; the complete glossary; the appendix on basic Homeric forms and grammar; and the copious annotations on vocabulary, grammar, meter, historical and mythological allusions, and literary interpretation.
Primarily designed as a textbook, this volume will be an effective classroom tool and a useful acquisition for any library supporting a classics program. The book will find readers among high school and college Greek students, advanced students in Homer or epic poetry classes, graduate students working on reading-list requirements, and anyone interested in maintaining Greek reading skills.
P. A. Draper is Humanities Librarian, Cooper Library, Clemson University.

Genres: Classics, Language, Textbooks

200 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2002

Reviews

[max · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the format is well intentioned, there is so much translation provided next to the Greek text in this book that after a while students aren't really translating Homer at all. Instead, they are hunting down Draper's translations on the facing page. In their initial encounter with Homer I would much prefer to have students look words up and try to make sense out of the more challenging passages than to have it done for them constantly by a textbook editor.

My expectations were high on my first look at this book; after using it once I quickly came to feel that it simply wasn't helping my students grow in their understanding of Homer's Greek. So I don't use it anymore.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little students' edition, though coming from Attic I was a little bit hindered and could have used more assistance with Homeric forms. The introduction is fine, but not quite exhaustive enough. The commentary does err on the side of too much help --it's almost like an interlinear with the translation written below rather than between the lines -- but on the whole I think I prefer "too much" to "too little" in the help department. In any case it's a fantastic introduction and readers with a year of Greek under their belts shouldn't hesitate to give it a whirl.

[Daniel Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book enough. It's a wonderful textbook or do-it-yourself for reading Homer in Greek. It requires a knowledge of Attic Greek, but it helps the reader with vocabulary and parsing. Very helpful!

[Adam Feng · Rating 5 out of 5]

ουδέποτε γαρ οιονται ικανώς ειρηκεναι οι θυμούμενοι.

We, being all μινυνθάδιοι, must grapple with the questions of how to live honorably and what choices to make within the brief time allotted for any human life.

5/5