the poem
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poet
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Homer (8th century a.e.v.) or see 'homeric question'
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genre
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poem, epic (gre:έπoς translit:epos).
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original title
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Ὀδύσσεια [o`δisia]
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title translated
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Odyssey. l'Odyssée
Oδύσσεια [o`δisia]
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language
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ancient GREEK, with ionic, aeolic and poetic elements. It was not a spoken language.
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script
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Initially, it was not written down (only recited). In later ancient times, it was written (see 'first editions').
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creation time
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8th century a.e.v, probably after the epic poem: Iliad. (see 'homeric question')
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creation place
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Greece, Ionia (Asia Minor coast)
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metrics
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verses in dactylic hexametre.
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related words
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Names of greeks (see 'homeric names').
Mycenae (maps, city, civilisation).
Ithaca.
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in two words
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Odyssey. The epic poem tells the story of the 10‑year voyage back home of Ulysses after his participation to the ten-year siege of Troy. He faces unknown lands and peoples, natural and mythical forces. His legendary cunning will triumph and will bring him back to his home island, Ithaca.
- PROTAGONISTS: Ulysses, goddess Athena, his wife Penelope, his son Telemachus, heroes and mythical creatures.
Ulysses: gre: Oδυσσεύς mod.gre.pronunc:[oðiˈsefs]
- DIAGRAMME: the verses were divided by ancient scholars into 24 'rhapsodies' marked with the lower case letters of the greek alphabet.
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concise info
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NOTES, EDITIONS AND TRANSLATIONS, IMAGES.
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notes on the Odyssey
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first verse ♪
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ANΔPA MOI ENNEΠE MOYΣA ΠOΛYTPOΠON OΣ MAΛA ΠOΛΛA (gre.anc. original)
[`anδra mi `enepe `musa po`litropon os `mala po`la] (mod.gre.pronunciation)
the man, tell me, o muse, the ingenious who very many (eng. literal translation mot‑à‑mot)
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structure
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Total number of verses: [[addendum: how many?]]. They were grouped by the alexandrian scholars in 24 'rhapsodies' ‑not 'books'‑ (marked with the small case letters of the greek alphabet α, β, γ etc.).
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main theme
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The power of 'nostos' (eng=going back, hence nostalgia).
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principal hero
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Ulysses. gre:OΔYΣΣEYΣ /odiseus/ after whom the poem is named: Odyssey.
Ὀδυσσεύς [oðiˈsefs]
Oδυσσέας [oðiˈseas]
Ὀλυσσεύς, Ὀλυττεύς, Ὀλυξεύς, Ὠλίξης, Ὠλύξης, Oὐλίξης
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main episodes
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The adventures of Ulysses during his journey back home, to the island of Ithaca, after the ten‑year siege of Troy. The god of the sea, Poseidon, is angry with him and raises innumerable obstacles to his journey back home. Goddess Athena and his own legendary cunning will help him. He faces monsters, winds, mythical creatures and finally the suitors of his throne at Ithaca.
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time of plot
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Most part of the poem is a flashback during narrative sections. Ulysses' journey back home lasted 10 years. The real action‑days in the poem are approx. forty (40).
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places of plot
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An imaginary ocean, seas and islands, inspired and associated to the Mediterranean sea (MAP). Some have tried to identify places.
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editions and translations of the Odyssey
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first editions
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- 1. by Peisistratus (Pisistratos) gre:Πεισίστρατoς, tyrant of Athens (627‑528 a.e.v.), Athens
- 2. sample of aegyptian papyri (30 a.e.v.‑640 e.v.) at Duke Papyrus Archive: scriptorium.lib.duke.edu
example: <http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/papyrus/records/60.html>
- 3. New times: by Demetrius Halcocondyles (Halcondyles), Florence, Italy, 1488 (gre:Δημήτριος Χαλκοκονδύλης or Χαλκονδύλης)
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ancient text
modern editions
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- FULL LIST: [[addendum: bibliography]].
- SELECTION see Homer#Editions@wikipedia
- ANNOTATED: [[addendum: 2-4 best ones]]
- ONLINE SCANNED:
- Owen, John Jason. The Odyssey of Homer: According to the Text of Wolf: with Notes for the Use of Schools and Colleges
p.516
- .pdf or images at <http://books.google.com/books?id=DAwBAAAAYAAJ> digitized on 2007.04.12.
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translations
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There are two kinds: prose and poetic. In many languages.
- ENGLISH POETIC TRANSLATIONS
- LIST see English translations of Homer @wikipedia
- Alexander Pope /ale`ksaner `poup/ ONLINE:{pope} lang:eng.
- ENGLISH PROSE comment: NOT RECOMMENDED.
- typed .html:
by Samuel Butler classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.html
- MODERN GREEK
- see page in greek
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bibliographies online
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@wikipedia
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Odyssey OΔYΣΣEIA