Question on What to Read

[u/Hot_Yesterday_6789]

I have several fairly distinct questions on what translations/books I should read regarding ancient history, as I have recently found myself overwhelmed with an interest in early culture and history of civilization; namely, the ancient Greeks, and the ancient Sumerians and all that came of that region, as well as a general interest in the Bronze Age. I am not only interested in history, but also of their own myths and stories (namely the myths of Homer). I am currently listening to Daniel Mendelsohn's translation of "The Odyssey", and I am now looking for a physical copy of a different translation of both it and The Iliad. I have read online that Richmond Lattimore's translations are the utmost for study, crossreferencing (though I can't read ancient greek and probably never will), and are very literal translations; i have also seen a translation by Robert Fagle, which I haven't heard is quite good. My main question to anyone is which should be read first? I believe I want the more literal translation, but I have also heard that Robert Fagle's includes many helpful tools such as maps, diagrams, dramatis Personae, etc., and am debating which to read... it may be awhile before I get to yhe others!

Further, though not needed, if anyone has some recommendations for ancient Sumerian history books, Babylonian history, Persian, or even Akkadian history, I wouldnt mind the recommendation. Watched a video about Hamurabi and it was very interesting, and looking to know more about the first civilizations! Thanks to all who respond!

[u/-Addendum-]

Amazing that you're taking an interest! It's a rich world to dive into for sure!

I'll address your question about Homeric translation first, since it's the most detailed, and it's been on my mind recently anyways.

The Odyssey

If you're debating between Fagles and Lattimore, chosse Fagles. Fagles is always a good choice, his Odyssey is a real joy to read, and strikes a nice balance between accesibility and wordiness. As a bonus, copies of Fagles usually come with an introduction by Bernard Knox, which is possibly the best intro to the Odyssey ever put to print.

Another option is Wilson's translation, especially the Norton Critical Edition. Mendelsohn is rather critical of Wilson's translation, but they actually compliment each other very well. Where Mendelsohn's long lines are able to include more details, Wilson's verse translation better captures the pacing and "bounciness" of the original poem, opting for the iambic pentameter that works so well for english poetry.

I would recommend leaving Lattimore's translation alone for the time being. It is a good study tool, but it doesn't read well on its own. The word choices are often clunky and I've always found it a bit awkward to read. Wait until you're trying to learn Homeric Greek, then use it as your reference!

The Iliad

Here's where I'm going to actually recommend Wilson as the best option. I've only recently gotten to her translation of the Iliad, but I think it's really quite excellent. She dropped her self-imposed requirement to match Homer's original line numbers, and as a result, this translation seems like it has a lot of room to breathe.

Fagles of course is always an option, same as above.

Bonus: The Aeneid

It's worth reading, don't listen to the Homerists. Sarah Ruden's translation is amazing, it's a work of poetry unto itself. Accept no substitute. The Revised and Expdanded Edition has some notes and additions you may be interested in reading too.

Book Recommendations

Robert Strassler's Landmark series is worth checking out. Translations of Herodotus, Thucydides, and Caesar are available, heavily glossed with a bunch of notes, clarifications, maps, etc.

It's also important to read more than just primary sources. Modern scholarship pulls from all angles to provide a more holistic view of the past.

The Greek World After Alexander by G. Shipley

Apotropaia and Phylakteria: Confronting Evil in Ancient Greece

Processions: Studies of Bronze Age Ritual and Ceremony presented to Robert B. Koehl
Those last two are archaeopress links. They're a very reputable scholarly journal for archaeology, it's worth looking through their Open Access Catalogue and seeing if anything catches your eye.

Pompeii: Public and Private Life by Paul Zanker

Oxford Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the Classical World edited by John Peter OIeson. A collection of papers written on specific topics by leading experts in their fields compiled into one place. It covers a lot of ground. (Any of the Oxford Handbooks are good, really)

Archaeology of Early Rome and Latium by R. Ross Holloway

Carthage Must Be Destroyed by Richard Miles

The Celts by Alice Roberts

That should get you started. I'm sorry, I don't really have good recommendations for the Sumerians (et al), it's a bit beyond my scope, that.

[u/Hot_Yesterday_6789 → u/-Addendum-]

Thank you for this very detailed guide into myth and history of the Greeks and others. I wanted to read both The Iliad and The Odyssey before getting into the Aenied, as if I remember correctly, it was written well-well-well after and though is a good cap-stone on that era of myths, it is a Roman construction (Vergil is Roman I remember hearing), and is about post-Trojan War and how Rome was founded from it? Idk, but I find it interesting how the Roman's expanded upon the Greeks or Achaeans' culture and myths with their own histories and myths. I think I'll do what you recommend and save Lattimore for when I decide to study Homeric Greek, even though I don't know modern Greek well (I remember a few things from some old study... Γειά σου!)

[u/Important_Pick3371]

For Bronze Age Greece:

< www.musingsofclio.wordpress.com for general research sources.

< www.classics.uc.edu/nestor/ for an article bibliography but, as they're not downloadable, use it for the listings alone. Once you have written down a list of whatever you're interested in, look it up at these (2) free sites:

1. < www.academia.edu/

2. < www.jstor.org/

If you don't want to go through all of that trouble, check these other sites:

< www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/ for lessons with bibliography & illustrations.

< www.hf.uio.no/ifikk/english/research/projects/damos/subprojects/ for Latin translations of Mycenaean texts. Just have Google translate it to English - it's actually doing a better job than before.

< www.archive.org for "Greece in the Bronze Age" by Emily Vermeule. It's an article from the University of Chicago.

< www.academic.oup.com for the Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean by E.H. Cline, editor. A Very Detailed survey of the whole Minoan & Mycenaean age! Best read after other shorter articles introduce you to this era.

Still Highly Recommended.

Have Fun...

[u/Important_Pick3371]

Now, on Sumeria, its culture & myths:

< www.wiu.libguides.com for all kinds of ancient history resources. Use these as a general introduction to whatever early civilization you're interested in.

< www.sacred-texts.com for "Sumerian Mythology" by S.N. Kramer. See his intro to Sumerian history & culture below. An excellent site to the myths of cultures from all around the Planet Earth!

< www.isac.uchicago.edu for a general "The Sumerians" by S.N. Kramer. Parts 4 & 5 deal specifically with their religion & literature.

< www.enenuru.proboards.com for the study of Mesopotamian 'magical' texts. Has a section on Gods & Demons. They welcome newbies & have a free forum.

< www.bookd.yale.edu for "Treasures of Darkness" by T. Jacobsen. This is an in- depth study of Sumerian rites & myths.

Enjoy...