A. T. Murray vs Herbert Jordan Iliad Translation Comparison

Years: 1924 and 2008

The Murray translation of the Iliad captures the poetic beauty and grandeur of Homer's epic, while the Jordan translation focuses more on accessibility and modern language, allowing a wider range of readers to engage with the text.

Passage comparison

A. T. Murray

The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades many valiant souls of heroes, and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus the plan of Zeus came to fulfillment, from the time when first they parted in strife Atreus' son, king of men, and brilliant Achilles.

Herbert Jordan

Sing, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles' anger,
ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals,
consigned to Hades countless valiant souls,
heroes, and left their bodies prey for dogs
or feast for vultures. Zeus's will was done
from when those two first quarreled and split apart,
the king, Agamemnon, and matchless Achilles.

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