History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

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Uses for this Translation
Fantastic Read
If Homer were a down-home balladeer...
People Don't Make Up Curses Like That Anymore...
"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle

The Odyssey
Homer
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140268863

Amazon.com

Robert Fagles's translation is a jaw-droppingly beautiful rendering of Homer's Odyssey, the most accessible and enthralling epic of classical Greece. Fagles captures the rapid and direct language of the original Greek, while telling the story of Odysseus in lyrics that ring with a clear, energetic voice. The story itself has never seemed more dynamic, the action more compelling, nor the descriptions so brilliant in detail. It is often said that every age demands its own translation of the classics. Fagles's work is a triumph because he has not merely provided a contemporary version of Homer's classic poem, but has located the right language for the timeless character of this great tale. Fagles brings the Odyssey so near, one wonders if the Hollywood adaption can be far behind. This is a terrific book.

Book Description

If The Iliad is the world's greatest war epic, then The Odyssey is literature's grandest evocation of everyman's journey though life. Odysseus's reliance on his wit and wiliness for survival in his encounters with divine and natural forces during his ten-year voyage home to Ithaca after the Trojan War is at once a timeless human story and an individual test of moral endurance.

Translated by Robert Fagles
Introduction and Notes by Bernard Knox

Customer Reviews:

Uses for this Translation.......2007-09-30

this is an amazing book, with something for anyone. if you are interested in studying philosophy, you'll find it here. but, you can also read a great adventure story with fables and a love story written in. in that sense, this is a great translation; if you want to read this for the sake of entertainment, Fagles is a great translator. if you want to read for philosophical discussion, however, he might not serve your purposes. the thing you have to know about Fagles is, he often inserts adjectives and the feel of the entire story changes. so, if you want fidelity to the Greek words, try Lattimore. if you want fidelity to the Greek metrical sense, try Mandelbaum or Pope. and if you want fidelity to the Greek adventure epic, Fagles is your guy.

Fantastic Read.......2007-09-26

I'd tried to read some of the "classic" translations in college, and though I love poetry I found that Chapman, Pope et al. were extremely difficult to wade through. I skipped around, read what I thought were the "best parts," and put it aside.

I found the prose translations to pedantic, and none caught my interest.

Fagles version enthralled me, and made me realize that I knew nothing about the story. It was far deeper, more complex, and emotionally rich than I ever suspected.

There were certainly parts that dragged - there were whole pages devoted to feasting, and some of Odysseus' longer lies grew tiring. There were also parts that soared - Calypso's unrequited love for the hero, Athena's deadly games, Nausicaa on the beach, Odysseus meeting his dead countrymen in Hades, and the slaughter in the hall are all vividly captured. I'm ready to move on to the Iliad and Aeneid now!

If Homer were a down-home balladeer..........2007-09-20

Fagles's colloquial translation is far from faithful to Homer. It lacks any hint of the grandeur or gravitas proper to the epic, and in places borders on paraphrase. Some will argue that because most of the Odyssey is either dialogue or narrative told by one the characters, colloquial language is appropriate. However, the colloquial tone extends even to poet's (or muse's) own narration. One need look no further than the translation's first line for an example: where Homer speaks of the man who is polytropos ("of many turns"), Fagles gives us "the man of twists and turns." Moreover, it is hard to accept the colloquialism of much of the dialogue. For example, Fagles makes Nestor respond to Telemachus's request for the story of Agamemnon's murder, with: "Gladly, my boy, I'll tell you the story from first to last..." This is hardly the way one talks about the tragic and treacherous death of a former comrade in arms. Nor is Fagles's rendering of Odysseus famous narrative in Books 9-12 convincing: for example, Fagles has Lampetie bringing news to Helios of his cattle's slaughter "Quick as a flash." By contrast, Lattimore tells us she "ran swift with the message."

If Homer were a down-home balladeer, Fagles would be the translator of choice.

People Don't Make Up Curses Like That Anymore..........2007-06-14

My freshman English class tackled The Odyssey, and we all relished it. The high-key adventure, the indomitable Odysseus, the history and culture of our adored Greek society, and the rich dialogue all kept us hooked. The curse of the Cyclops is still a monologue I fall back on, even three years later, because, I'm telling you, people nowadays just don't know how to cast curses! As a little recommendation to enhance the reader's enjoyment, read a little bit about the Trojan War before starting. For my class, we had a packet with the history of the war, beginning with the Choice of Paris and ending with the Wooden Horse. It helps with the understanding of the story and whets the appetite for Homer's epic.

"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle.......2007-04-29

The Trojan War is over and one of our hero kings is lost. His son (Telemachus) travels to find any information about his father's fait. His wife (Penelope) must cunningly hold off suitors that are eating them out of house and home.

If he ever makes it home Odysseus will have to detect those servants loyal from those who are not. One absent king against rows of suitors; how will he give them their just deserts? We look to Bright Eyed Pallas Athena to help prophecy come true.

Interestingly all the tales of monsters and gods on the sea voyage was told by Odysseus. Notice that no on else survives to tell the tale. So we have to rely on Odysseus' word.

Many movies took sections of The Odyssey, and expanded them to make interesting stories those selves.

Not just the story but the way in which it is told will keep you up late at night reading.

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"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle,
Gandalf reads the Odyssey...what's not to like?
One of the world's oldest adventure stories
Odyssey
Ian McKellen's Odyssey

The Odyssey by Homer
Homer
Manufacturer: Penguin Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 014305824X

Book Description

NOW AVAILABLE - Digitally remastered, and on CD for the first time

Translated by Robert Fagles, with an introduction by Bernard Knox
Read by Sir Ian McKellen

Customer Reviews:

"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle,.......2007-05-07

Gandalf reads the Odyssey...what's not to like?.......2007-05-01

I thought that this is perhaps the best audio book I have ever listened to, rivaled only by John Cleese's reading of C. S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters. Ian McKellon, whom most know primarily through his role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, reads with the same epic sounding voice that he employed in the Lord of the Rings (as oppossed to less epic sounding voice inflection he employed in Xmen). Somehow his voice just sounds as ancient and mythical as the Odyssey itself. I cannot imagine a better reader for this book. I wish he had done the Iliad as well.

As for the translation itself, I must disagree with those who claim that it is the best. It is, I grant you, better than the thoroughly modernized versions like W. H. D. Rouse's, but I think it is (very) slightly too modernized. Phrases like shilly-shallying or other modern phrases simply do not belong in ancient texts like the Odyssey. That said, they did keep that type of language to a minimum, and the only better translation I have come across is Richard Lattimore's. For the most part this translation keeps the epic feel that the Odyssey should have, and Ian McKellen's voice only adds to this. I highly recommend this version. It is one of the few audio books I think is worth a second listen.

Overall grade: A+

One of the world's oldest adventure stories.......2007-02-03

Homer's "The Odyssey" is one of the world's oldest adventure stories and holds the same attraction for contemporary readers that it has for Hellenic antiquity some three thousand years ago as an epic chronicle of adventure recounting the trials and tribulations of Odysseus when that famed Greek war hero tried to make his way home after the fall of Troy. Here are the stories of the Cyclops, Circe, the Sirens, the Underworld, and the demanding suitors for the hand of Penelope. This classic story is dramatically narrated by John Lee who is able to fully convey the energy, intellect, and resourcefulness of Odysseus in all of his legendary encounters. Strongly recommended for both school and community library audiobook collections, this complete and unabridged, ten compact disc recording has a total running time of 11 hours and 49 minutes.

Odyssey.......2007-01-15

Bought this for my son's school report. It was word for word from the book. The problem was that there wasn't much music or voice inflection and my son had a hard time wanting to listen to it and paying attention while he was listening to it.

Ian McKellen's Odyssey.......2007-01-09

An absolutely superb reading. Subtle, beautifully modulated, deeply sensitive to the text. This performance sets a standard for performances of the Homeric poems that is only very rarely met.

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Homer wrote at least one great story--the Iliad--and one bad one--the Odyssey
"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle
Down-to-Earth Translation of a Classic
An Epic Thriller
The Odyssey - once more

The Odyssey (Penguin Classics)
Homer
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140449116
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Customer Reviews:

Homer wrote at least one great story--the Iliad--and one bad one--the Odyssey.......2007-08-09

The Odyssey is an aweful book. The only thing that perhaps carried it through to modern day readers is the fact that it follows the Iliad--which is one of the greatest stories ever told.

I know people worship Homer, but do they ever ask themselves why. Is it not because of the Iliad?

The fact that the Odyssey has such common appeal and has been turned into several crappy movies should tell you something, and perhaps tell you also why Homer never actually finished the story--as it's pretty obvious the ending was a fill in by a lesser writer.

The Iliad is complex and rich in description, the Odyssey is big on action and simply told. It's pretty obvious the latter was never meant to be a great work by Homer.

Maybe Homer wrote the Odyssey as a bedtime story for children, a tall tale of a legendary hero made household famous by the Iliad.

That the Odyssey continues to be considered a classic perhaps can't be helped--it's certainly very digestible ancient Greek literature--but it's not good literature.

About the only thing we get out of the Odyssey is at the very beginning, the story of the Trojan Horse, and that's where its value ends.

Great translation and story 'retelling' by the translater though.

"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle.......2007-05-20

Down-to-Earth Translation of a Classic.......2007-04-21

Over the years, I've encountered several different translations of Homer's 'The Odyssey' in school textbooks. These were generally excerpts, not the work in its entirety. I had become quite familiar with it's plot, as well as its ties to Greek mythology, though I'd never read the whole work. I've made attempts at reading Robert Fitzgerald's full translation of 'The Odyssey' in the past, though I found that I couldn't get into it. A couple of months before writing this review, I came across this particular translation...After leafing through the pages, it appeared to be much more accessible than others I had seen, so I thought I'd give it a try.

One of the key differences between this translation and others is that it has been rendered in the style of a novel than like the epic poetry its been translated from. Though the literal meaning of the passages has been largely retained, I find this translation's layout to be more aesthetically appealing and, thus, easier for a casual reader to become immersed in.

'The Odyssey' is the story of the main character, Odysseus, and his return to his home in Ithaca after the Trojan War. Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, had to leave both his wife Penelope and his newly born son Telemachus behind because he has to leave for Troy. 'The Odyssey' begins, chronologically, in the 'middle' of the actual sequence of events in Odysseus' story. While Odysseus has been away from Ithaca for an unusually long length of time, his patron goddess, Athena, is discussing his fate with her father, Zeus. In the meantime, Odysseus' wife, Penelope, is constantly being harassed by a large group of men collectively referred to as the 'Suitors', who wish to marry her, since it appears that there is no chance of Odysseus returning. Athena visits Telemachus, who is now around 20 years old, and is able to help him get news of his father's whereabouts. Odysseus has been held captive by the nymph Calypso for many years, though the messenger-god Hermes persuades her to free him. Odysseus builds himself a raft, though it ends up being wrecked by the enraged sea-god Poseidon. Odysseus swims to an island, where he is rescued by a young girl, Nausicaa. He is welcomed by her father, Alcinous, and mother, Arete. At this point, Odysseus tells of the trials he has had to endure since his participation in the Trojan War so long ago.

Many of these events will be familiar to anyone interested in Greek mythology; for instance, his crew's ships being wrecked on the island of the Lotus-Eaters, his encounter with a Cyclops (Poseidon's son, who Odysseus blinds by thrusting a stake through his eye; this is the reason why Poseidon is angry with Odysseus), and passing through the land of the singing Sirens. After he is finishing telling of his adventures, a group of skilled sea-men, the Phaecians, help him reach Ithaca. Odysseus is able to introduce himself to his son Telemachus, who he hasn't seen since he was a baby. In disguise, Odysseus is able to walk amongst the Suitors and Penelope, and tells them that Odysseus is going to be returning soon. Penelope tests all of the Suitors, saying that anyone able to string Odysseus' bow in an archery competition may have her hand in marriage. Odysseus, still disguised as a beggar, is the only one able to do so. Then, he reveals his identity to the Suitors, then kills them after turning his bow upon all of them. His wife, Penelope, tests Odysseus to see if he is really who he says he is by telling the maid Eurycleia to move their bed from the bedroom. Odysseus then tells of how he built that bed himself from an olive-tree and how it would be incredibly hard for anyone to move it. Thus, Penelope was convinced of his identity, and they talk of all of the events that have occurred in each of their lives during the long span of time that they haven't been able to communicate.

'The Odyssey' is one of the central works of Western literature, which is understandable based on the story's scope: mythology, adventure, an intelligent and cunning hero, and an unpredictable plot. The fairly flat, and sometimes archetypal dispositions of the characters are made up for by the complex and enjoyable nature of the tale.

An Epic Thriller.......2007-03-23

The Odyssey is an epic story about a king and his twenty year journey back home to Ithaca. The book starts off in the city of Ithaca where Odysseus is told that he has to off to Troy to fight in the Trojan War. Odysseus is the main character of this story that goes to fight in the Trojan War in which he hides inside a Horse (A gift for the Trojans) and come backs home to find that his house is overran by suitors. This epic poem could be compared to the Iliad, which tells about some aspects of the Trojan War, by Homer.
The author uses great and specific details of the killings and the in the injuries the characters endure during their adventure. I suggest this book to anybody who loves action filled epic stories.
When I read this it makes me want to read it again every time because of the action and details in this story. If you are a fan of epic adventure I recommend you read this book because of the compelling characters the specific details.

The Odyssey - once more.......2007-02-01

Impressively, there have been at least six new English translations of the Homeric epic, the Odyssey, in the last 50+ years, a clear demonstration of the fascination of the original Greek and also of the pleasure and prestige that a line-by-line modern rendition grants to the dedicated translator, whether a scholar, a poet, or (in the case of Laurence "of Arabia")a military adventurer. The work by the English classicist, E.V. Rieu, extended by his son, D.C.H. Rieu, is one of the most readable, warm and "alive". Even a modern artist, whose tapestries were exhibited at the Onassis Center in New York in 2005, used this (in combination with the Modern Odyssey by Nikos Kazantzakis) as her inspiration.

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The Odyssey (Puffin Classics)
The Odyssey puffin classics
The Odyssey review
One eyed monsters- Oh My!
This isn't The Odyssey

The Odyssey (Puffin Classics)
Homer , and Geraldine McCaughrean
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140383093

Book Description

Odysseus turned his eyes from the still-smoking ruins of Troy and thought of home. But the journey would be long to the three-island kingdom of Ithaca, and there would be many dangers to overcome--the Lotus-eaters and the cloying nectar of their deadly fruit; the hungry one-eyed giant
Polyphemus; the stormy wrath of the vengeful sea-god Poseidon; Circe, the beautiful sorceress who turned men into pigs; the terrors of the whirlpool Charybdis and the six-headed sea monster, Scylla; and the descent to the kingdom of Hades, god of the dead--until bright morning he arrived back, alone
and exhausted, to face the hundred fierce suitors of his faithful wife, Penelope.
In this retelling, Geraldine McCaughrean's lively and original style is complemented by Victor Ambrus's brilliant recreations of the ancient world and its monsters and gods. Young people will enjoy the fast-paced and contemporary text, gain an introduction to Homer's classic story, and gain a
foundation for further studies in history and literature that will serve them well into their adult lives.

Customer Reviews:

The Odyssey (Puffin Classics).......2007-05-15

Exactly as promised! Arrived in a timely manner, as well

The Odyssey puffin classics.......2007-01-13

The book was requested for my son who is in high school. It was an assignment for his english class. The shipping cost almost as much as the book. The book was easy reading and detailed the classic so that he understood the story.

The Odyssey review.......2006-08-22

this book was for a 11year old girl who was doing a school summer project. She loved the book, the simplicity of the story and had her project completed in two days

One eyed monsters- Oh My!.......2006-07-27

My daughter is 5 and will be in Kindergarten this fall. (she turns 6 this November) and she loves this tale. We read almost a full chapter, some are very long for a five year old, every night. The next day, oh yes, I am mean Cyclops, a Lotus Eater, etc. and she is brave Odysseus.(who is part super hero as she ties a towel around her neck! Since she is five and we are Christians I didn't tell her they were "gods" as it would take way more explanation than her dad and I wanted to get into. She first saw a picture of Posieden and thought he was a monster so we went with that. When she's older, we'll get into the Greek god mythology. I do change some of the wording, but not much, as it can get tedious for one so young. Highly recommend it.

This isn't The Odyssey.......2006-03-22

This is a rewritten version of The Odyssey aimed at kids, not the orginal version written by Homer. Don't buy this unless you want the version written for 10 year olds.

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An Incredible Experience
"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle
Review of The Oddyssey
The Odyssey
quintessential epic

The Odyssey of Homer
Homer
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060931957

Book Description

The most eloquent translation of Homer's Odyssey into modern English.

Customer Reviews:

An Incredible Experience.......2007-06-10

The Odyssey of Homer is an incredible experience.

If you haven't read it, or aren't familiar with the story, it's about Odysseus, a veteran of the Trojan War, who upon embarking for his home on Ithaca experiences a series of trials (the Great Wanderings) that eventually lead to his marooning on Ogygia, Calypso's island. Pallas Athene (more commonly known simply as Athena) intervenes on the part of Odysseus (whose house is overrun by various suitors trying to win over his wife Penelope) and sends his son, Telemachos, on a journey to find news of him. Athena convinces Zeus to help Odysseus off of Calypso's island, which he does by sending his son Hermes. Odysseus leaves the island, lands on Scheria, and receives conveyance from Alkinoos and Arete, the King and Queen of the Phaiakians, respectively, back to his home on Ithaca. To make a long story short (the entire last half of the book takes place around Odysseus' contrivance against the suitors and their ultimate murder) Odysseus and Telemachos get to Ithaca (Odyssues disguised as a beggar), plan out how to punish the suitors, kill them, and kill their revenge-seeking relatives. This is obviously an incredibly short synopsis because the book is so rich and full of detail and minor - though incredibly interesting - stories (including Menelaos' journey and struggles against the Old Man of the Sea, Agamemnon's murder at the hands of Aegisthus and his traitorous wife, and the suitors' bow and arrow competition) that it's impossible to go into any great detail.

As for the translation, everybody knows that Lattimore did an incredible job; not often is there a translator whose name I actually remember after I read the work he/she translated. In Lattimore's case, I'll never forget, seriously: it's that good. He incorporates the nuances of modern English into Homer's epic masterpiece to create a rich interpretation that will probably never be duplicated. I would seriously recomend this book to all literate peoples. Like I said: it's an incredible experience that you'll never forget.

"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle.......2007-05-12

Review of The Oddyssey.......2006-11-11

This translation is very good. We enjoyed it although parts were boring and haed to read.

The Odyssey.......2006-11-10

This is a requirment for 9th grade Honors class. We bought our own copy in addition to the school paperback that our son brings home daily. This way his father could read along and discuss it with him. We were glad to be able to buy the same translation.

quintessential epic.......2006-04-02

I have delved into the classics (western) as of late and purposefully saved this one for last...and much like dessert is the last and sweetest part of the meal, so was "the odyssey" after reading other classics. One of the first things that stood out in Lattimore's intro was his comment about the fantastic character development occuring throughtout the text. After reading "the iliad," i was expecting similar flat characters, but Odysseus, Telemachos and Penelope were indeed richly developed throughout the epic making the reader yearn for the climax when Odysseus is finally united with his family. The character development of "odyssey" also allowed characters from "the iliad" to be given more substance in this translation. In particular, I am thinking of Agamemnon when Odysseus visits the underworld. Because of the character development earlier in the poem this scene was chilling and meaningful.

I also enjoyed Lattimore's conjecture regarding the original author or authors of "the iliad" and "the odyssey." In particular I laughed out loud when he proposed that perhaps the author of "the odyssey" might have parodied "the iliad" when he wrote the part in "odyssey" where Telemachos sneezes and abruptly rattles his armour about him, which would poke fun of the soldiers crashing to the ground in their armour in "the iliad."

I have only read this translation of "the odyssey," but after reading "the iliad" and "the aeneid" by different translators, i feel that this one was so well done that it seems like it easily could have been an original English poem. Lattimore provides a wonderfully extensive glossery of characters from Greek mythology and poetry elaborating on their parentage.

The Hero and the Goddess: The Odyssey as Mystery and Initiation (Transforming Myths Series)

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Healing the wounded warrior through the Divine Feminine
A Reawakening

The Hero and the Goddess: The Odyssey as Mystery and Initiation (Transforming Myths Series)
Jean Houston
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Epic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Criticism | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0345365674
Release Date: 1992-02-25

Customer Reviews:

Healing the wounded warrior through the Divine Feminine.......2002-05-14

I very much hope that a publisher will move to get this wonderful book back into print and into the hands of the many readers who will be inspired by it to remember their spiritual identity and purpose and to follow it with greater courage and clarity and passion. "The Hero and the Goddess" is a beautiful extended meditation on the classic journey of a wounded warrior through many tests and ordeals into profound healing in the realms of women, through the nurturing power of the Divine Feminine. In requickening the remarkable vision journey recounted by Homer (and the anonymous woman writer who may have helped compose "The Odyssey", as Robert Graves believed) Jean Houston helps us understand how the true Guide of our life - the Friend of the soul - is never distant, and is always seeking to help us live from the depths and think from the heart. I frequently quote this book in my transformational workshops, and it is one of the seminal works that inspired me in writing my own book "Dreamgates".

A Reawakening.......2001-10-10

I found Jean Houston's "The Hero and the Goddess" to be wonderfully tapestry- A retelling of "The Odessy" in its classic form, while utilzing analysis and [individual/group] exercises to help the reader make the connections between the messages of the story and the unrecognized/untapped potential within each of us in our every day lives.

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Odyssey/The Illiad Penguin box set
The Set You Should Own
Reads Like a Dream
Two greats for the price of one
Excellent translations -- not to mention great stories

Iliad and Odyssey boxed set
Homer
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Ancient, Classical & Medieval | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Literature & Fiction | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books
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ASIN: 0147712556

Amazon.com

This is a boxed gift edition of Fagles's two widely acclaimed translations of Homer.

The Iliad is typically described as one of the greatest war stories of all time, but to call it a war story does not begin to describe the emotional sweep of its action and characters: Achilles, Helen, Hector, and other heroes of Greek myth and history in the 10th and final year of the Greek siege of Troy. The Odyssey is, quite simply, the story of Odysseus, who wants to go home. But Poseidon, god of oceans, doesn't want him to make it back across the wine-dark sea to his wife, Penelope, son, Telemachus, and their high-roofed home at Ithaca. The story is told in easy-going, beautiful poetry; the characters speak naturally, the action happens briskly. Even the gods come across as real people, despite the divine powers they exercise constantly. Both works have been hailed by scholars and the public for the powerful language that brings clashing, pulsing life to these ancient masterpieces.

Book Description

A beautiful gift set of Robert Fagles' award-winning translations of Homer

Gripping listeners and readers for more than 2,700 years, The Iliad is the story of the Trojan War and the rage of Achilles. Combining the skills of a poet and scholar, Robert Fagles brings the energy of contemporary language to this enduring heroic epic.

If The Iliad is the world's greatest war story, then The Odyssey is literature's greatest evocation of every man's journey through life. Here again, Fagles has performed the translator's task magnificently, giving us an Odyssey to read aloud, to savor, and to treasure for its sheer lyrical mastery.

Each volume contains a superb introduction with textual and critical commentary by renowned classicist Bernard Knox.

* Deluxe paperback editions with French flaps and acid-free paper in a handsome slipcase

* Robert Fagles is the recipient of the 1997 PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation and a 1996 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters

* The Iliad was a New York Times Notable Book and won the 1991 Harold Morton Landon Translation Award by The Academy of American Poets, an award from the Translation Center of Columbia University, and the New Jersey Humanities Book Award

* The Odyssey was chosen by Time as one of the ten Best Books of 1996

Customer Reviews:

Odyssey/The Illiad Penguin box set.......2007-09-24

A very nice set. It looks good and the binding is sturdy. It should last many years of use and still look presentable on the shelf. The poetic translation is the best I know of. A poetic translation is always suspect because either meaning, tone or the poetic phrases will have to be sacrificed at certain (usually frequent) points. This one goes quite a ways in the direction of maintaining the feel of the original, and staying poetic - a least better than any other translation I know of. The original has a sound and movement in its meter that is unmatched and this translation does not match it, but it does occasionally remind me of the original, and there are a very few, if any, really awkward phrases. The text is also approachable by someone who is not a classical expert, another problem with many translations. Not a masterpiece, but it does allow you to get glimpses of the masterpiece that is the original. It is a very approachable and enjoyable translation, and the best thing out there for these very important, enjoyable, imaginative, and pivotal works in Western literature.

The Set You Should Own.......2007-06-06

Quality. Quality. Quality.
And at a VERY nice price.
A common problem with sets like these is that the type is often
crammed so close together, and so light, it can be extremely hard to read.
That's NOT the case here.
Very easy on the eyes, well spaced and printed on surprisingly thick, rag edge stock.
The binding (so important in a paperback) is absolutely first-rate.
The covers are way beyond what you'd expect at the price.
And boxed is always nice.

Quality. Quality. Quality.
And highly recommended.

Reads Like a Dream.......2007-04-15

This two volume set is excellent. Both books are essential pieces of literature which belong together on everyone's bookshelf. Western Literature began with Homer. If our entire civilization were to be lost and only Homer's great classics were to survive, human culture would be well represented.

Different translations have somewhat of a different flavor. This particular translation is well constructed, easy to follow and represents the works very well. Other translations, such as Samuel Butler's, Homer - The Iliad and The Odyssey, which is more formal tend to present Homer with a bit more grandeur, but then, that is really a matter of individual taste. This edition cannot be faulted.

If you are looking for a gift for someone you really care about. You might want to consider this edition of Homer's Illiad and Odyssey. This boxed set not only looks good - it reads like a dream.

Two greats for the price of one.......2007-03-12

The Iliad and The Odyssey are epics that everyone should read whether their required to at school or not. There are places with dullness, but also ones of great excitement. Homer transcends even modern writers with his graphic telling of Troy's fall. Incredible writing, and even more incredible to see that perhaps we haven't evolved so much into loving violence as we may think, it's been here for over two-thousand years.

Excellent translations -- not to mention great stories.......2007-01-16

I have a number of translations of these works in my personal library. Since I was beginning a new course about these books, I went searching for a more up-to-date (modern) approach.

Some professors of classical studies have criticized these translations for being marred by excessive use of colloquial language and that Fagles' meter does not capture the feeling of the Homeric hexameter. That may be true but, as far as I am concerned, it doesn't matter.

Fagles' translation is very easy for the ordinary American to read and that is most important as far as I am concerned.

The Ulysses Voyage: Sea Search for the Odyssey

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Coming Face to Face with Ulysses
The story behind the myths?
search

The Ulysses Voyage: Sea Search for the Odyssey
Tim Severin
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Epic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Greek | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0525246142

Customer Reviews:

Coming Face to Face with Ulysses.......2001-08-19

Tim Severin's "The Ulysses Voyage" is more than a fascinating adventure/detective story. It is, above all, a fine piece of scholarship, marshalling evidence from Homer, from a modern understanding of the geology and meteorology in Ulysses's time, and from what is known about local myths to construct a convincing account of the reality behind Homer's wondrous tale. The book, which includes color photographs of the likely waypoints on Ulysses' journey, inspired me to visit some of these waypoints, myself. I've now been to the land of the Cyclops and had coffee with the local expert Tim Severin spoke with, visited the Isle of Aeolius, and snorkeled in the bay where the Laestrygonians destroyed all but one of Ulysses'last 12 boats. "The Ulysses Voyage" is among the most valued books in my collection. Others of Severin's books are not far behind.

The story behind the myths?.......1999-12-02

I read this book many years ago, and it gave me a new perspective on the Odyssey. Tim Severin is an adventurer, but here he is searching for a reality behind the old myths. He does it in a very convincing as well as entertaining manner. As the Iliad was brought from the sphere of myths back to history by the discovery of the ruins of Troy, Tim Severin's re-tracing of a route from Troy to Ithaca, at least in my mind has turned the Odyssey into a historical event.

search.......1999-01-27

i am producer and i look for to join Tim Severin i work on Ulysse's documentary and i would like to known if Tim Severin get always his boat called Argos.

Thanks a lot

Book Description

Lombardo's Odyssey offers the distinctive speed, clarity, and boldness that so distinguished his 1997 Iliad. From the translation:

"And when the wine had begun to work on his mind,

I spoke these sweet words to him:

'Cyclops

You ask me my name, my glorious name,

And I will tell it to you. Remember now,

To give me the gift just as you promised.

Noman is my name. They call me Noman-

My mother, my father, and all my friends too.'

He answered from his pitiless heart:

'Noman I will eat last after his friends.

Friends first, him last. That's my gift to you.'"

Customer Reviews:

Finally an adaptation worth its salt!.......2007-03-09

The Odyssey is mandatory reading for my freshman English classes and it has been quite difficult to teach. This literary work can be a very dry read for those who do not enjoy poetry reading (most freshmen). For this reason, I began a search for a translation that would make it easier for my students to understand. I read the previous reviews before buying it and I must say, I am glad that I did. Lombardo does an excellent job of making the translation understandable without dumbing down the text. My students this year have enjoyed this story much more than previous classes because of this. If you are looking to gain better understanding for yourself or to teach this text to others, this is the translation to get!

Originality of Homer's epic recovered.......2006-02-25

Stanley Lombardo's translation has brought back the original "feel" of the ancient Greek epic. Classical and Koine Greek are both what you call "earthy" languages, a tone lost with many established and contemporary translations. Lombardo restores the drama and the linguistic edge that the epic poem possessed in its original tongue. The Lombardo translation is quickly becoming standard among university professors and students of classical literature.

Eminently readable and true to the original text.......2006-02-09

Lombardo's translation of the Odyssey, as well as his Iliad and Aeneid, receive much-deserved kudos as the most readable translations available. He writes with poetic and colloquial English that makes it easy for the lay person to understand.

Unfortunately, many of these same lay readers bash Lombardo's translations because they assume the personable nature of the writing makes it inaccurate. People expect a classic to have a certain formal diction to it, in the vein of Shakespeare and the King James Bible. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The King James Bible, despite having the most formal prose, is certainly not the most accurate translation of the Bible. Similarly, verbose translations of Homer do not mean it is more true to the text. Lombardo's version of the Odyssey preserves the immediacy and hard hitting nature of Homer's original Greek poetry. You will notice in other reviews that readers disapprove based on what they imagine Homer should sound like. Trust me, they haven't read the original texts. Classical scholars, some of whom I personally work with, have given universally excellent reviews to Lombardo's translations. This translation proves you can have your cake and eat it too. It is highly recommended.

Retains the Spirit.......2006-01-07

One reviewer here took umbrance at some of the language used by the translator. One point he made was the use of the word "chow". Another was about the language used by a Goddess. He asked if Homer would really have used such vernacularisms. I say: YES! Of course he would have. He wasn't trying to live up to some modern readers' clueless perceptions of "high art". He was trying to tell a good story, like any good storyteller. And like any good storyteller, he would have used techniques that enabled his audience to identify with his characters. In this instance, sailors will be sailors regardless of the times. Also, the gods of the ancient greeks did a lot of things that wouldn't have been done by God as we commonly percieve him. Now, take Shakespear for example. He wrote for the Everyman of his times. It is only much later that elitists turned him into an acquired taste. I think ostentatious readers need to understand that 200 years from now critics, looking back on our literature, will probably have long forgotten the pseudo-intellectual whinings of the Kurt Vonneguts and consider as classicists solid storytellers like Dean Koontz. The problem here lies in the fact that there is absolutely no way to translate literally from the greek and retain the original impact. I would strongly recommend reading Lattimore's translation as well if one wants a more literal interpretation, but remember that something will be lost that way. Lombardo has translated more than just the words, he has translated Homer's intentions, and that is the important thing.

thank u!.......2005-10-04

I just wanted to say good job.. the book is in great condition.. it came quickly and when i needed it.. thanks again!

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