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/lit/ - Literature

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8563824 No.8563824 [Reply] [Original]

Does one need any background knowledge about the Greeks or Greek mythology before starting The Illiad?

>> No.8563830

mythology by Edith Hamilton

that's all u need

>> No.8563838
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8563838

>>8563830
thanks famalam

>> No.8563840

>>8563824
You could start with Hesiod's theogony -- it's a pretty short backgrounder on the gods.

I also found reading with a period map helpful, since everyone is from somewhere you've never heard of and it can make things seem too abstract.

>> No.8563846

>>8563824

No.

That version of the Illiad (Robert Fagles) happens to have a great introduction which fills you in if you'd have any questions about the origin of the story and some historic background of the real events that it's based upon.

But even without that introduction you wouldn't need anything to understand it. It's all fairly straightforward.

>> No.8563913

>>8563846
Okay, even better then; it is the version I have.

>> No.8564001
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8564001

>> No.8564024

Did you come to lit to pander; do yo not know who zeus is?