Book Club | August 2020: Quintus Smyrnaeus Fall of Troy 10–14

Wordcloud in shape of Trojan Horse

Epeios first fashioned the feet of that great Horse of Wood: the belly next he shaped, and over this moulded the back and the great loins behind, the throat in front, and ridged the towering neck with waving mane: the crested head he wrought, the streaming tail, the ears, the lucent eyes—all that of lifelike horses have. So grew like a live thing that more than human work, for a god gave to a man that wondrous craft. And in three days, by Pallas’s decree, finished was all.

For August, we will complete our “long summer read” of the Fall of Troy, or Posthomerica, by Quintus Smyrnaeus.

This month, we will read Books 10–14, which include the death of Paris, further fighting, the construction of the Trojan Horse, the sack of Troy, and the Returns.

As always, you can read any translation you like. Free online:

Translation by Arthur S. Way:
online at theoi.com
or
downloadable parallel text at archive.org

Available to ‘borrow’ at archive.org (registration required):
Translation by Frederick M. Combellack

Greek text:
online at Perseus

Discussion will start and continue in the forum, and we will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, August 25, at 11 a.m. EDT.

Happy readings!