Odyssey, Books 13–24

by Homer, Augustus Taber Murray (Translator), George E. Dimock (Editor)

Here is a new Loeb Classical Library edition of the resplendent epic tale of Odysseus's long journey home from the Trojan War and the legendary temptations, delays, and perils he faced at every turn. Homer's classic poem features Odysseus's encounters with the beautiful nymph Calypso; the queenly but wily Circe; the Lotus-eaters, who fed his men their memory-stealing drug; the man-eating, one-eyed Cyclops; the Laestrygonian giants; the souls of the dead in Hades; the beguiling Sirens; the treacherous Scylla and Charybdis. Here, too, is the hero's faithful wife, Penelope, weaving a shroud by day and unraveling it by night, in order to thwart the numerous suitors attempting to take Odysseus's place.

The works attributed to Homer include the two oldest and greatest European epic poems, the Odyssey and Iliad. These texts have long stood in the Loeb Classical Library with a faithful and literate prose translation by A. T. Murray. George Dimock now brings the Loeb's Odyssey up to date, with a rendering that retains Murray's admirable style but is worded for today's readers. The two-volume edition includes a new introduction, notes, and index.

Genres: Classics, Poetry, Literature, Mythology, Fiction, Classical Studies, Ancient

467 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 701

About the author

Homer (Greek: Όμηρος born c. 8th century BC) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered and influential authors in history.
Homer's Iliad centers on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles during the last year of the Trojan War. The Odyssey chronicles the ten-year journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, back to his home after the fall of Troy. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. Despite being predominantly known for its tragic and serious themes, the Homeric poems also contain instances of comedy and laughter.
Homer's epic poems shaped aspects of ancient Greek culture and education, fostering ideals of heroism, glory, and honor. To Plato, Homer was simply the one who "has taught Greece" (τὴν Ἑλλάδα πεπαίδευκεν). In Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to Homer as "Poet sovereign", king of all poets; in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the "greatest of poets". From antiquity to the present day, Homeric epics have inspired many famous works of literature, music, art, and film.
The question of by whom, when, where and under what circumstances the Iliad and Odyssey were composed continues to be debated. Scholars remain divided as to whether the two works are the product of a single author. It is thought that the poems were composed at some point around the late eighth or early seventh century BC. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity; the most widespread account was that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider these accounts legendary.

French: Homère, Italian: Omero, Portuguese, Spanish: Homero.

Reviews

[Michael Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The well-woven tale about a man’s striving to get home to his wife and son, among all the toils and troubles that prevent him, follows the conclusion of the Iliad. And once he does arrive home, Odyssyeus’ work is not yet done. Everyone should read his story at least once, if only to understand all the references and allusions which come up in countless other places. It is one of the three ancient epic stories that define the genre of “epic.”

Murray’s translation reads well and is not ‘sugar-coated’ for modern readers (or preteen readers, which other translations may be more suited for). Having the (Homeric) Greek on the facing page to glance at is helpful (a mark of the Loeb series). Other than the small font, one will find it hard to criticize much in quality of the Loeb Classical Library.

[John Isles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear text and an accurate translation, but very little help is given to the reader in the way of footnotes. There would have been room for many notes in the blank spaces at the foot of the pages carrying the English translation. A note such as "See Oxford Commentary, vol. III, pp. 143-45" as given on p. 341 is of little use to the general reader. (The publisher's price for the Oxford Commentary is $306.)

[Arnau · Rating 5 out of 5]

«Com de benvinguda la terra apareix als qui neden, quan enmig del gran mar Posidó la nau ben obrada els ha romput, escomesa pel vent i per l'ona compacta; i són pocs que han fugit del salobre canut a la riba, nedant, i se'ls ha fet a la pell un crostís de salura; i amb alegria petgen la terra, escapats de desgràcia: tan benvingut era, doncs, per a ella l'espòs, i el mirava i no sabia llevar-li els dos braços blancs de la testa.»

Un clàssic ineludible. I de totes les traduccions que he llegit, la de Carles Riba és sens dubte la millor.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

As in the Iliad, humans are often mere playthings for the disputing gods. Odysseus arrives home at last and kills lots of people, most of whose worst crimes seem to be that they are arrogant, rude boors who have no second thoughts about eating him out of house and home while they wait for Penelope to agree to marry one of them. Odysseus gives mercy and empathy short shrift.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I were to retell this story, I'd focus on Eumaeus, and call it "The Noble Swineherd."

[Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the second half of the Odyssey with new eyes this time, thanks to my recent reading of Albert Lord's "The Singer of Tales." Lord and his mentor, Milman Perry, recorded hundreds of Slavic bards singing traditional tales. In his book, Lord then compared several different variations of a similar theme, where a man returns home in disguise after a long imprisonment/absence. In essence, this is the story of Books 13-24 of the Odyssey. We are thus more distant from any historical basis in the events of the Trojan War and closer to what seems to be a common folk motif across cultures.

Throughout this part of the poem, Homer's depiction of all the characters, even the most minor, is excellent. We get Eumaios, the noble swineherd who welcomes Odysseus even when he appears to be a wretched beggar. Then there are the various suitors of Penelope, who are carefully differentiated in their degrees of awfulness. And of course there's Penelope herself, who has stood out for so long against the pressures of the suitors, and has trouble trusting her own eyes when her husband finally returns. To me the highlights among the many recognition scenes, where characters realize who Odysseus is, are the aged nurse, Eurycleia, who notices an old scar on his leg; and best of all, the dog Argos, who like Odysseus himself has fallen on hard times, yet sees through the rags to recognize his master. What an amazing poet who created this scene, which will touch the heart of any dog lover.

It was bittersweet to reach the end of the Odyssey. I have now finished Homer's two epics. But I am excited for my next project, which will be my first encounter with Hesiod. And then I'll come back to the "Homeric" Hymns, which most likely come from a later time.

[Bile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Al igual que l'Ilíada, l'Odissea és un dels grans clàssics de l'antiguitat que ens han llegat fins als nostres dies, oferint una obra excepcional tant per la informació que ens brinda de l'època (el paper de la dona, les localitzacions...) com també per la qualitat narrativa de l'obra.

Tot i que preferiria un apartat de notes al peu, com en l'altra col·lecció de Bernat Metge, però l'edició bilingüe i el fet que hagin rescatat la traducció de Carles Riba és, simplement, perfecte.

[SócUnaFada · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5

Ulisses, no aconseguiran mai que em caiguis bé.
Punt positiu per la traducció del Carles Riba.

[Yente Austerlitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

ὡς δὲ κύων ἀμαλῇσι περὶ σκυλάκεσσι βεβῶσα
ἄνδρʼ ἀγνοιήσασʼ ὑλάει μέμονέν τε μάχεσθαι,
ὥς ῥα τοῦ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει ἀγαιομένου κακὰ ἔργα·
στῆθος δὲ πλήξας κραδίην ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
“τέτλαθι δή, κραδίη· καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο ποτʼ ἔτλης.
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι μένος ἄσχετος ἤσθιε Κύκλωψ
ἰφθίμους ἑτάρους· σὺ δʼ ἐτόλμας, ὄφρα σε μῆτις
ἐξάγαγʼ ἐξ ἄντροιο ὀϊόμενον θανέεσθαι.”

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly i haven't read this edition but couldnt find the one i have read. Still really interesting too read the classics and see in them the basis for almost every story or film that you'll ever read. really enjoyed reading this.

[David Hollywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with the rest of Homer this is essential reading for knowing much more than simply the journey of a heroe after The Trojan War, this represents the origins of the classics and from that what our literature and stories are all about.

[Hank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the detail, the prose, and the chance to delve into a bit of ancient Greek fiction. One of the inspirations to our modern fantasy.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good, but it's sooooooooooo long. It's also a really old dorm of writing, and can be difficult to follow.

[Onur · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the place of Book 20 of the Odyssey