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The Iliad - which translation?
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:49 am
by gmtfd
Wondering if anyone could recommend the best translation of the Iliad, from a Jaynesian point of view?
Many thanks for any help with this.
Regards
Gareth
Re: The Iliad - which translation?
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 4:08 pm
by Moderator
We know Jaynes refers to commentary on the Iliad by Walter Leaf, preferred earlier translations, and may have used the Leaf, Lang, Myers translation:
http://julianjaynes.org/related-books_iliad.php
Re: The Iliad - which translation?
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 7:18 am
by pcg
That said, the translation by Robert Fagles is generally considered one of the finest of the late 20th century. And I think it fits the "Jaynesian point of view" quite well. There's a fair amount of variety in tone and emphasis from translation to translation, and it's worth comparing editions if you have that option.
Re: The Iliad - which translation?
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 7:45 am
by pcg
It is also worth reading a recent thread here that discusses the importance of translations, and how many, if not most, are modernized for contemporary readers. In other words, a factual translation is shunned in favor of a smoothed, "readable" version.
http://www.julianjaynes.org/forum3/view ... ?f=7&t=895