The Odyssey â€� Reader Q&A

Questions About The Odyssey

by Homer

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Odyssey, please sign up.

Answered Questions (33)

Should I read The Iliad or The Odyssey first?

Juan Francisco Although they're not exactly sequential, I'd recommend you to read The Iliad first, then The Odyssey. The Iliad provides you huge context, involving tâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðAlthough they're not exactly sequential, I'd recommend you to read The Iliad first, then The Odyssey. The Iliad provides you huge context, involving the Trojan War, plenty of characters (including Odysseus), and the cosmovision of Ancient Greece.(less)

flag

Is there anything in The Odyssey that suggests Ulysses rebelled against gods, or even denied their existence? I've read it twice, but it was a while ago, and since then came across this idea in several modern texts, notably various essays by PÃ©rez-Reverte.

Zina Yes. He attacked Poseidon's Giant son, Polyphemus, and then cursed Poseidon himself as well, thus committing hubris. This is exactly why it took him 2â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðYes. He attacked Poseidon's Giant son, Polyphemus, and then cursed Poseidon himself as well, thus committing hubris. This is exactly why it took him 20 years to get back to his kingdom. Poseidon made everything very hard for him. However, he was the favourite of Athena because of his ingenious mind. That is not to say that he rebelled on purpose, he just committed hubris. He did acknowledge Gods. Athena was his Mentor (literally).(less)

flag

Which is the best translation of this book?

Benjamin Beserra I can say Robert Fagle's is readable without being overly simplified and accurate. His approach to the translation is explained in the book.â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI can say Robert Fagle's is readable without being overly simplified and accurate. His approach to the translation is explained in the book.(less)

flag

Would anybody please give me some enlightening on why the gods names are Greek in some versions and Roman in others? Is it just about differences in modern/ contemporary translations or were there different versions of the epic itself in the Antiquity?

Pamela Simpson Itâ€™s all depends on the translation. Some books use the Roman equivalent of the names (e.g. Ulysses is the Latin equivalent for Odysseus). E. V. Rieuâ€�â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðItâ€™s all depends on the translation. Some books use the Roman equivalent of the names (e.g. Ulysses is the Latin equivalent for Odysseus). E. V. Rieuâ€™s translation uses the Greek names and that was translated in 1948. All the modern ones Iâ€™ve come across (e.g. podcasts) use the Roman equivalents, so it could be a mixture of differences in modern and old translations (less)

flag

Could someone please tell me, is this book the story of the Odyssey with translations to make it more involved for the reader, or is this just re-written as a different perspective?

Benjamin Beserra It's a direct translation from the original Greek text to whatever language the edition is in. They may vary in accuracy and style depending on the puâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðIt's a direct translation from the original Greek text to whatever language the edition is in. They may vary in accuracy and style depending on the purpose of each. Some may aim at retaining the original phonetical quality, others at simplifying the text so it's easier to read, etc...(less)

flag

Load 5 more questions