Ancient Greek language

Greek dialects in epic: the cake of Homeric poetry

In this video, Gregory Nagy, Douglas Frame, and Leonard Muellner have an informal discussion about the functioning of Greek dialects in Homer, focusing on the role of multiple parallel grammatical forms in the system. First published March, 6,2018 You can watch the video on the CHS YouTube channel, or in the frame below. Related topics Greek dialects and the poetic super-language Greek dialects in the language of Homer: Mycenaean, and… Read more

The language and style of Thucydides, with Jeffrey Rusten

We are pleased to share the following video in which Jeffrey Rusten, of Cornell University, provides some suggestions on how to analyze the language of Thucydides, different types of sentence structure, patterns of contrast and comparison, the use of phrases, and word order. He demonstrates a method of visualizing the structure of a sentence through the use of layout. He also discusses the style of Thucydides compared with other Greek… Read more

Using Logeion: Quick Guide

Here at Kosmos Society we have been continuing our exploration of the digital tools that help us in the translation study groups and for carrying out word searches and word studies. Many of us have made use of Logeion, for both Greek and Latin. This online reference has a number of useful features, and provides access to lexicons and dictionaries in a selection of languages other than English. It also… Read more

Homeric Greek | Odyssey 1.255–266: Wish or condition?

We are pleased to share this segment in the series on reading Homeric epic in ancient Greek. In each installment we read, translate, and discuss a small passage in the original Greek in the most accessible way. If you’ve ever dreamed of reading Homer in the original, here is your chance to do so with teachers who have spent a lifetime thinking about this poetry. With their guidance even new… Read more

Reading Homeric poetry without a safety net

In this video Leonard Muellner, Gregory Nagy, and Douglas Frame talk about the experience of reading Homer together without doing any preparations, as a playful and open-minded activity. Over the coming weeks we will be sharing further segments of the series on reading Homeric epic in ancient Greek. In each installment they read, translate, and discuss a small passage in the original Greek in the most accessible way. If you’ve… Read more