[B-Greek] Iliad, anyone?

Keith Saare ksaare at masters.edu
Fri Apr 22 14:18:14 EDT 2005


This topic is justified for it uses the historical comparative method of
study through the centuries leading up to the Koine and Greek NT. I am
hoping you seasoned classicists will lend a helping hand while I am in
the groundbreaking phase of venturing outside of the NT to study the
changes the language went through before arriving at the first century.

 

My resources for studying classical are very scarce. I am relying upon
Liddell & Scott (L&S) and my NT grammars. Obviously my work will be
deficient, but I welcome your critique to correct my numerous mistakes
which I am about to spew forth.

 

I've never read The Iliad in translation, but my analysis of the opening
lines is as follows:

 

* MHNIN - L&S lexical form: MHNIS (Acc. Sg. Fem.), direct object of the
following imperative AEIDE,  "wrath," "anger."            

* AEIDE - L&S lexical form: AEIDW (Pres. Act. Impv. 2nd pers. Sing.),
"sing!", "chant!" 

*QEA - Voc. "O goddess"      

* PHLHIADEW - L&S lexical form: PHLEUS (Epic genitive form. Sg. Used in
a paternal context? Gen. of relationship? [I'm not sure here, somebody
help me please.]), "son of Peleus."

* ACILHOS - L&S form:  ACILLEUS (Epic genitive form. Connected to MHNIN:
"wrath of Achilles"), "of Achilles."

* OULOMENHN - L&S lexical form: OULOMENOS (Aor. Mid. Part. Acc. Fem.
Sg.), modifies MHNIN and used as adjective, "destructive."

 

My wooden translation: "Sing, O goddess, (the) destructive wrath of
Achilles son of Peleus,"

 

To keep this message from getting too long, I'll stop at this point and
pick up later in another thread where I left off.

 

Keith Saare

 




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