/alg/ - Ancient Literature General

[Anonymous No.19728455]

This thread will revolve around the culture, beliefs, deities and customs of the ancient pre-abrahamic traditions, as well as the polytheistic or henotheistic predecessors of the monotheistic religions.
Links to resources:
https://dpaste.com/9TLTKALKG

[Anonymous No.19728502]

>>19728455
Just finished Metamorphoses. It's my first proper ancient book.
Should I go for the Iliad and Odyssey right away? Or is it better to start with Hesiod?
Are Mythologies by that Edith woman or Greek Myths by Graves necessary for my enjoyment?

[Anonymous No.19728848]

>>19728502
>Should I go for the Iliad and Odyssey right away?
Yes, Homer is the starting point
>Are Mythologies by that Edith woman or Greek Myths by Graves necessary for my enjoyment?
Only if you take their opinions with a grain of salt

[Anonymous No.19728867]

>>19728502
Starting with Homer is quite reasonable. Maybe look up some basics on ancient Greek gods first, but you don't need a lot. Personally I would recommend you start with the Odyssey as it's more approachable.

[Anonymous No.19728896]

>>19728502
Start with Hesiod, don't read Edith, Graves is fun but you can just read it after reading the Greeks.

[Anonymous No.19728918]

>>19728502
You can start with the Iliad. Just pick a good translation. Like Faegels. Then there are no prerequisits. Don't start with the Odyssey - its a sequel obviously.

[Anonymous No.19728967]

What is considered the best translation of Commentarii de Bello Gallico? I made a thread too. Also what are considered "must read" roman historical books.

[Anonymous No.19729010]

>>19728896
>Start with Hesiod
this seems like the most appropriate, yes. I already have graves' book here, so I might use as reference when necessary

[Anonymous No.19729015]

Start with the caves. Read Bataille's The Cradle of Humanity

[Anonymous No.19729027]

>>19728896
>>19728848
>>19728502
wtf why is edith on the fucking chart if everyone just says to skip her. guys im halfway through...

[Anonymous No.19729165]

>>19728967
Idk but read a bilingual edition. It's possibily the best prose ever in Latin

[Anonymous No.19729372]

[Anonymous No.19729447]

Should I learn latin?

[Anonymous No.19729469]

Which translation of The Táin is better, Kinsella or Carson?

[Anonymous No.19730011]

>>19729447
yes but do ancient greek as well

[Anonymous No.19730113]

>>19730011
What's the best textbook to start with?

[Micsimone No.19730191]

>>19729469
Kinsella

[Anonymous No.19730305]

>>19728455
A very helpful anon just told me this about Gilgamesh:

>Which epic of Gilgamesh translation should I read?
The new Benjamin Foster translation is both up-to-date and quite nice, if we're talking English translations only.
>Would it be better to read the oldest fragments or the standard text by Sîn-lēqi-unninni?
Many editions contain excerpts from the older Sumerian and Old Babylonian Gilgamesh compositions. While some of them are very interesting and quite good compositions in their own right, they're *mostly* of interest to academic students of the cultures. The Standard Babylonian version is completely sufficient for someone interested in the broad strokes of literary history.
>Who has the best commentary?
Andrew George's two-volume scholarly edition is still the standard for students, but for commentary directed at a more general readership Foster should be fine.
>How are Robert temple and other verse translations?
I've read fairly few Gilgamesh translations, so I can't help you much in the regard of comparison. Foster translates into free verse (as most worthwhile translations of Ancient Near Eastern poetry do), which keeps the poetic parallelism that the integrity between the verses rely on intact. Andrew George's Penguin translation is less up-to-date, but very good also.

pic, ant religion