From mēnis to ira: Ancient Translators of Homer

Abstract

This dissertation expands scholarly conceptions of translation through a comprehensive study of translations of the Homeric epics in Greco-Roman antiquity. By broadening conventional notions of ancient translation formally, linguistically, and chronologically, my research argues for the pivotal role of Homeric translation as a collective form of textual production. In particular, my project encompasses two types of materials previously overlooked. Firstly, by developing a framework for the concept of intralingual translation—that is, rewording in the same language—of Homer in ancient Greek texts, I extend the scope of translation to Homeric glossaries, lexica, hypotheses, and paraphrases, which have been traditionally studied under separate rubrics. By treating these texts as translations instead, my dissertation proposes a diachronic network of Homeric reception across Greek and Latin texts. Secondly, while existing scholarship in ancient translation focuses on elite literature, I highlight the important contribution of non-elite texts to Homeric translation, including papyri and inscriptions, many of which are connected to the ancient classroom. By examining structural and textual parallels between these non-canonical Homeric translations and their canonical counterparts, this dissertation reframes ancient rewritings of Homeric epic across different material contexts and social spheres.