Richmond Lattimore vs Peter Green Iliad Translation Comparison

Years: 1951 and 2015

Lattimore's translation of the Iliad stays close to the original text, preserving its poetic qualities, while Green's translation adds a more modern flair, making it accessible and engaging for contemporary readers.

Passage comparison

Richmond Lattimore

Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son Achilleus
and its devastation, which puts pains thousandfold upon the Achaians,
hurled in their multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls
of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting
of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished
since that time when first there stood in division of conflict
Atreus' son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus.

Peter Green

Wrath, goddess, sing of Achilles Pēleus's son's
calamitous wrath, which hit the Achaians with countless ills—
many the valiant souls it saw off down to Hādēs,
souls of heroes, their selves1 left as carrion for dogs
and all birds of prey, and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled
from the first moment those two men parted in fury,
Atreus's son, king of men, and the godlike Achilles.

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