alternative ancient readings in the text of homer, iliad

Introduction The goal of this project was to thoroughly analyze translations of Homer’s Iliad to identify differences that have arisen over the 100+ translations from Homeric Greek to English. Primarily working with lines 1.5 and 1.350, we were concerned with the choices made in translation and what manuscripts, papyri, and texts they may have come from and the reasons they were chosen. Process • Initially, I started by reading Caroline Alexander’s 2015 translation in its entirety. • Throughout the span of this project, I communicated and corresponded with recent translators of the Iliad. • I attended a lecture led by Pittsburgh’s William Guy on his translation. • I corresponded with Barry Powell and Joe Sachs through email on their translations. Discussion • Generally, in 1.4-5, ἑλώρια is present and typically translated as “prey” as well as πᾶσι, translated as “all.” • Powell and Sachs take an alternative solution, preferred by Zenodotus, where they use δαῖτα (translated as ”feast”) in place of ἑλώρια. • Generally, in 1.350, οἴνοπα πόντον is present and translated to mean something along the lines of “wine- dark sea.” • Powell and Sachs take an alternative reading – preferred by Aristarchus, and mentioned in the scholia of Venetus A - ἀπείρονα πόντον, which is translated to mean something along the lines of “boundless sea.” Acknowledgements Thank you to the Classics Department, my mentor Dr. Edwin Floyd, the First Experiences in Research Program, Dr. Barry Powell and Dr. Joe Sachs, and Dr. William Guy. Contact Erica Kaiser University of Pittsburgh [email protected] References In a representation of Achilles at 1.350 from Gareth Hinds’ recent graphic novel (published March 12, 2019), it appears to represent Aristarchus’ alternative reading meaning “boundless sea.” The five translations Hinds used (Butler, Rieu, Lattimore, Fitzgerald, and Fagles) also use this alternative reading. Ancient variation occurs in lines 1.350-351 of Codex Venetus A. Used in the body text is “ἐπὶ οἴνόπα πόντον” – “over the wine-dark sea.” Above the main text is the word “ΜΕΛΑΝΑ” meaning ”black,” emphasizing “wine-dark.” Indicated in the margin, however, is “άπείρονα” – “boundless sea” as an alternative to “wine-dark.” For this passage, some translators, such as Alexander, with her "looked out to depths as dark as wine," follow the main text of Venetus A, but others, such as Lattimore, with his "looking out on the infinite water," follow the scholion. “An Exploration of Homeric Multitextuality.” The Kosmos Society, 6 Dec. 2018, kosmossociety.chs.harvard.edu/?p=7118. “Book 1.” The Iliad, by Gareth Hinds and Homer, Candlewick Press, 2019, p. 11. Alternative Ancient Readings in the Text of Homer, Iliad Erica Kaiser Dr. Edwin Floyd Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh

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Page 1: Alternative Ancient Readings in the Text of Homer, Iliad

Process• Initially, I started by reading Caroline

Alexander’s 2015 translation in itsentirety.

• Throughout the span of this project, Icommunicated and corresponded withrecent translators of the Iliad.

• I attended a lecture led by Pittsburgh’sWilliam Guy on his translation.

• I corresponded with Barry Powell andJoe Sachs through email on theirtranslations.

Discussion• Generally, in 1.4-5, ἑλώρια is present

and typically translated as “prey” aswell as πᾶσι, translated as “all.”

• Powell and Sachs take an alternativesolution, preferred by Zenodotus,where they use δαῖτα (translated as”feast”) in place of ἑλώρια.

• Generally, in 1.350, οἴνοπα πόντον ispresent and translated to meansomething along the lines of “wine-dark sea.”

• Powell and Sachs take an alternativereading – preferred by Aristarchus,and mentioned in the scholia ofVenetus A - ἀπείρονα πόντον, whichis translated to mean something alongthe lines of “boundless sea.”

AcknowledgementsThank you to the Classics Department,my mentor Dr. Edwin Floyd, the FirstExperiences in Research Program, Dr.Barry Powell and Dr. Joe Sachs, and Dr.William Guy.

Contact Erica KaiserUniversity of [email protected]

References

In a representation of Achilles at 1.350 from GarethHinds’ recent graphic novel (published March 12, 2019), itappears to represent Aristarchus’ alternative readingmeaning “boundless sea.” The five translations Hindsused (Butler, Rieu, Lattimore, Fitzgerald, and Fagles) alsouse this alternative reading.

Ancient variation occurs in lines 1.350-351 of CodexVenetus A. Used in the body text is “ἐπὶ οἴνόπα πόντον” –“over the wine-dark sea.” Above the main text is the word“ΜΕΛΑΝΑ” meaning ”black,” emphasizing “wine-dark.”Indicated in the margin, however, is “άπείρονα” –“boundless sea” as an alternative to “wine-dark.” For thispassage, some translators, such as Alexander, with her"looked out to depths as dark as wine," follow the maintext of Venetus A, but others, such as Lattimore, with his"looking out on the infinite water," follow the scholion.

“An Exploration of Homeric Multitextuality.” The Kosmos Society, 6 Dec. 2018, kosmossociety.chs.harvard.edu/?p=7118.

“Book 1.” The Iliad, by Gareth Hinds and Homer, Candlewick Press, 2019, p. 11.

Alternative Ancient Readings in the Text of Homer, IliadErica Kaiser Dr. Edwin Floyd

Dietrich School of Arts and SciencesUniversity of Pittsburgh

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