[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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