[B-Greek] studying Homeric Greek
R Yochanan Bitan Buth
ybitan at mscc.huji.ac.il
Sat Aug 14 13:42:53 EDT 2004
Steven Lo Vullo EGRAPSEN
>So I have
decided to undertake the necessary study to read the whole of the Iliad
and Odyssey. I have _Homeric Greek: A Book for Beginners_ by Pharr
(revised by Wright), _A Homeric Dictionary_ by Autenrieth, and _Homeric
Vocabularies_ by Owen and Goodspeed.
>
>First, are these sufficient, or can anyone think of anything else I may
need?>
RB: You will want a text, of which their are many, and a commentary for
Occasional reference. I say 'occasional' because I recommend reading
For exposure rather than chasing an obscurity, of which there are a
Never-ending well.
Lo Vullo:
>Second, in _Homeric Greek: A Book for Beginners_ it is argued quite
forcefully that the study of Greek should always begin with Homer
rather than with Attic, particularly Xenophon. Various arguments are
adduced, which I shall not repeat here. The recommended sequence of
proceeding through the study and reading of Greek is as follows: (1)
Homer; (2) Euripides followed by more drama or some Plato or some New
Testament; (3) Herodotus; (4) Plato (5) the Lyric Poets; (6) Hesiod;
(7) the New Testament (recommended for those intending to enter the
ministry; (8) Xenophon.
>
>Does anyone have any comments about this approach to Greek? Have any of
you teachers of Classical used this approach? Do you think it is on the
whole a good plan or deleterious? TIA>
RB: Homer was part of the training of Greek literacy throughout Greek
And European history. Pfarr has a good pedigree there. Personally,
I would recommend specializing in the language and dialect of
Interest. Homer can be read in parallel. Thus, if NT is a focus I
Would recommend Josephus, Epictetus and Plutarch, plus papyri, as
More fruitful than Homer. Homer is unsurpassed, though, in providing
An entertaining experience in the history of the Greek language.
ERRWSO
Randall Buth
Randall Buth, PhD
Director, Biblical Language Center
www.biblicalulpan.org
and Director, Biblical Studies in Israel
Hebrew University, Rothberg International School
ybitan at mscc.huji.ac.il
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