I've been wanting to read the Odyssey and the iliad bit I don't know Wich one I should read first and which one to read cause I've looked to buy it and there's so many and I don't know what the difference are so if someone could tell me Wich one would be recommended and why is really appreciate it thank you in advance
by HUMONGUS_CHUNGUS78
2 Comments
The translations by Emily Wilson are very good. She focuses on historical context and tries to strip away the modern western cultural influences from the translation
I’d read Illiad first. Chronologically it’s the first of the two, and the Odyssey’s story rests on events in the Iliad.
Iliad – story of the Trojan war, with a focus on the arguing and fighting amongst the Greeks as much as the fighting against the Trojans. Also tells of the actions & motivations of the Gods.
Odyssey – follows Odysseus as he tries to return home from the Trojan war, but is cursed and must surmount numerous obstacles, eventually losing all his men and returning to Itaca as a shipwrecked beggar. Also tells the story of Penelope as she patiently waits for her husband’s return and has to outwit the suitors who want to replace Odysseus as her husband and king.
The reason there are so many publications of these books is that almost no-one, except scholars in Ancient Greek, can/will read the original poems, so we are reading translations. I’ve read both and which translation you pick to read can make a difference.
I’d recommend checking these out at your local library; they are so famous, and so foundational, that every library should definitely have copies. If you find a translation you particularly like, then buy it if you want to keep it. Otherwise, save the money.