Iliad Book 1:17-25

Book 1 of the Iliad, lines 17-25.  The pace is imperfect, but at least it’s an update.  The Greek provided has been transcribed sloppily with scant attention to accents, and οικαδε has been translated with the rather unorthodox phrase “slaves and spouses.”  A more typical translation would be “homeward,” (home = οικος, δε = motion towards).  Which is actually a pretty good translation on a formal level.  But the notion of οικος (like the Latin familia) includes more than is included in our definition “home,” and so, “homeward” though formally cognate, doesn’t quite make muster semantically.  Given that fact, and that “slaves and spouses” are at least as much a part of an οικος as what we define as “home,” I take my translation to be fair.

These translations are personal, fun, and often enough done with specific people in mind, but while every attempt has been made to be accurate, it remains true that scholarly translations of poetry are still best left to actual scholars.  Therefore, if you want the best possible translation, I advise you to pick up Richmond Lattimore’s The Iliad of Homer. Other than that, enjoy!

Ἀτρειδαι τέ καὶ ἄλλοι ἐυκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί,
ὑμῖν μὲν θεοὶ δοῖεν Ὁλύμπια δώματ’ ἔχοντες
ἐκπέρσαι Πριάμοιο πόλιν, εὖ δ’ οἴκαδ’ ἱκέσθαι
παῖδα δ’ ἐμοὶ λύσαιτε φίλην, τὰ δ’ ἄποινα δέχεσθαι,

“Sons of Atreus and you other Achaeans well-greaved
Would that the Gods who have Olympian houses
Give that you sack Priam’s city, and return well to your slaves and spouses
But release to me my dear child, and receive many ransoms.”

ἔνθ’ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπεφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ
αἰδέσθαι θ’ ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα
ἀλλ’ οὐκ Ἀτρειδῃ Ἀγαμεμνόνι ἥνδανε θῦμῳ
ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δ’ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε.

Then all the other Achaians voiced their consent
Both to respect the priest and the shining ransoms to receive
But the heart of Agamemnon, Apollo’s priest did not appease;
Evilly Agamemnon sent him away and laid a mighty injunction upon him:

More soon.

Credo Ut Intellegam

JS