[B-Greek] studying Homeric Greek

George F. Somsel gfsomsel at juno.com
Sat Aug 14 15:02:34 EDT 2004


On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 13:17:33 -0500 Steven Lo Vullo <slovullo at mac.com>
writes:
> On Aug 14, 2004, at 12:42 PM, R Yochanan Bitan Buth wrote:
> 
> > 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.
> 
> I forgot to mention that I also have the two volumes of the Iliad 
> and 
> the two of the Odyssey from the Loeb series with translation and 
> notes 
> by Murray, so I'm all set there. I also have translations by Fagles, 
> 
> Fitzgerald, and Rouse, which have varying degrees of commentary. Can 
> 
> you recommend a good commentary that is in print?
> 
> > RB:  Homer was part of the training of Greek literacy throughout 
> Greek
> >     And European history.
> 
> Yes, it is pointed out that the idea of starting with Homer is not 
> new: 
> "This was the regular method employed by the old Romans in teaching 
> 
> their boys Greek, and it was highly commended by that capable and 
> judicious schoolmaster, Quintilian, as the best possible plan. Since 
> 
> that time it has been used now and then by some of the world's 
> ablest 
> educators and scholars." He then goes on to list many throughout 
> history who have used this plan with good success.
> 
> >  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.
> 
> I agree. But at the same time I want to be able to read more widely, 
> 
> primarily for enjoyment, but also to acquire a better understanding 
> of 
> the development of the Greek language and variety of Greek 
> literature.
> 
> Thanks very much for your input, Randall.
> ============
> 
> Steven Lo Vullo
> Madison, WI
> 
> ---

I haven't checked to see whether it is or is not in print, but there is
an online commentary to the Iliad (which is linked to the Perseus text).

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0
056

george
gfsomsel



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