Homer’s Iliad

Construed Literally & Word for Word

By Rev. Dr. Giles

London

[Sample from the Opening of Book IX]

Ώς thus οι μεν Τρωες the Trojans εχον held φυλακας their watches: αυταρ but Φυζα Flight θεσπεσιη heaven-sent εταιρη companion Φοβου κρυοεντος of pale Terror εχε possessed Αχαιους the Achaeans: παντες δ’ αριστοι and all the bravest βεβοληατο had been pierced πενθεϊ ατλητωι with intolerable grief. ̒̒Ως δε but as δυο ανεμοι two winds ορινετον stir up ποντον ιχθυοεντα the fishy sea, βορεης [namely] Boreas και Ζεφυρος and Zephyrus, τωτε which also αητον blow Θρηικηθεν from Thrace, ελθοντε coming εξαπινης suddenly, κυμα δε τε κελαινον and the dark wave κορθυεται rises in a crest αμυδις altogether εχευαν δε and they have strewn πολλον φυκος much sea-weed παρεξ out alongside of αλα the salt water: ως so θυμος the soul Αχαιων of the Achaeans εδαϊζετοο was torn ενι στηθεσσιν in their bosoms.

[For formatting reasons the accents and subscripts in the Greek of the above sample are not reproduced with scrupulously accuracy]

Giles’ translation, which is still in print, is clearly intended for someone who wishes to wrestle with Homer’s Greek for the first time rather than for the general reader wanting a readable English translation.

It is not clear to me whether or not Dr. Giles published the entire Iliad in this style. For a link to Giles’ treatment of the rest of Book IX, use the following link: Giles Iliad.

[List of Published English Translations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey]