Which Iliad Translation Should You Read?

We look at Lombardo, Lattimore, Green, Fagles, Bryant, and Chapman Translations

Homer’s Iliad was the Bible of the Ancient Greks and it still, rightfully, holds a high place in the western canon. The text should be made sacred. Every boy should read it before manhood. It’s a powerful way to learn about real human nature, how men of war act around one another, and what drives them to bravery. It was the way men used to act before society was plagued by comfort and decadence. That said, there are many, many translations of the Iliad. I am no Ancient Grek translator, I can’t even read, that’s delegated to my nerd slaves, and until I can acquire one that can translate Ancient Grek reliably, you will have to do with this Knuckledragger’s Guide to Iliad translations.

In this guide, I look at three passages from six different translators and rank how well they light the FIRE in a man’s soul. I will say that in ancient times, the Iliad was sang, which makes audiobooks superior to induct the uninitiated into this Great Work, in my opinion. My first experience was with Stanly Lombardo translation in audio form and inevitably, I’m biased towards it, but it has draw backs that I will lay out below. I’m currently listening to the Richard Lattimore translation audio and it is also very good. Both of these translators will be covered, in addition to Robert Fagles, who seems to be a favorite among my mutuals on twatter and Peter Green. The other two are OLDER translations from George Chapman who BAP references often on twatter, as well as, the W.C. Bryant translation which you can find on Imperium Press. Which translation is best, depends on the purpose and who’s reading. I will lay out my recommendations in the conclusion.

I chose three short passages from the Iliad as basis for comparing the six translators. The first two are similar, but I think they’re vital to picking the right translation, again, to light the fire in men’s souls. The first passage will be from Book 8 and it’s the moment when King Agamemnon goes to Odysseus’s ship to rally the troops. The second is from Book 11 when Eris so she can let out her terrible scream of strife and discord. The last is a passage originally poasted on twatter by BAP where Achilles gets the Myrmidons ready to follow Patroclus into battle. I like these passages, which is why they were chosen. Now without further ado, the Knuckledragger’s Guide to Homer’s Iliad Translations:

BOOK 8

I enjoy the passage because it highlights the wisdom in how the Trojan War heroes beached their ships. Hera spurs King Agamemnon to rally the Greks and he goes immediately to the center where Odysseus’s ship is located. Why is it there? Odysseus is a man of wisdom, cunning, and strategy, he wants his shout to be able to reach all the Greks. Ajax and Achilles both chose opposite ends of the camp, on the flanks. Why did they do this? They were both confident in their manhood and prowess that their flanks would not be turned by the Trojans.

“He went through the Achaean ships and huts Clutching his great purple cloak, and took his stand On the huge black hull of Odysseus’ ship, From which a shout would reach either end of camp, To Telamonian Ajax’s quarters at one end And Achilles’ at the other, for these two heroes Had drawn up their ships at the extremities, Trusting their manhood and the strength of their hands.” Homer, Lombardo Translation

My favorite translation for this passage is from Stanly Lombardo because it conveys passage in a way that makes you say, “YES.” You see that Odysseus is in the middle for his wits while Ajax and Achilles are put on the FLANKS because they’re manly powerfuks the Trojans don’t want to mess with. Again, I’m no Ancient Grek translator, so I don’t know if the word “flank” was used by the Greks, but I think it’s a powerful conveyance to us moderns. Coming in second the Lattimore translation:

“He went on his way beside the Achaians' ships and their shelters holding up in his heavy hand the great coloured mantle, and stood beside the black huge-hollowed ship of Odysseus, which lay in the midmost, so that he could call out to both sides, either toward the shelters of Telamonian Aias,

225 Or toward Achilleus, since these two had drawn their balanced ships up at the utter ends, sure of the strength of their hands and their courage.” -Homer, Lattimore Translation

I very much like the idea of the Ajax and Achilles being so manly, they wanted to be at either flank of the Grek ships. Lattimore doesn’t use the word “confident in their manhood,” but you still get the sense that they are there because of their confidence in their fighting prowess. Coming in at number 3 is the Bryant translation:

“He passed beside the fleet, among the tents, Bearing in his strong hand his purple robe, And climbed the huge black galley which had brought Ulysses to the war, -for in the midst It lay, and thence the king might send his voice To either side, as far as to the tents Of Ajax and Achilles, who had moored Their galleys at the different extremes Of the long camp, confiding in their might Of arm and their own valor.” -Homer, Bryant Translation

This one is good, but the final part leaves something to be considered. Maybe, language has changed since Bryant translated, but when I hear the word “confiding,” I think of trusting with a secret or something. Obviously, we know they’re trusting in their battle prowess, but there begins a wordiness that gets worse with the other translations:

“He made his way through Achaea's ships and shelters, flaring his great crimson cape with a strong hand

and stopped at Odysseus' huge black-bellied hull,

moored mid-line so a shout could reach both wings, upshore to Telamonian Ajax' camp or down to Achilles'- trusting so to their arms' power and battle-strength

they'd hauled their trim ships up on either flank.” -Homer, Fagles Translation

Fagles translation isn’t bad either, it’s probably tied with the Bryant, in my opinion. There’s a sense of urgency Agamemnon in the Bryant version that gives it an edge, that’s absent in Fagles. Fagles does a good job in making Iliad readable for moderns, but it gets brushed up a little too much and takes away from the hardness.

“So he set out along the line of their huts and vessels,​220 clutching his great purple cloak in one solid fist, and stopped by Odysseus’s ship, black and deep-hulled, that lay halfway along, so a shout could reach either end, be heard at the huts both of Aias, Telamōn’s son, and those of Achilles: the two who had drawn up their trim ships​225 furthest away, relying on their prowess, their hands’ strength.” -Homer, Green Translation

On our side, you don’t hear much about the GREEN translation of the Iliad. The reason I include him here is I found massive reddit thread going over the translations which concluded with Green being the most faithful to Homer. Again, I don’t know Ancient Grek, so cannot confirm. This one just doesn’t flow well at the end for me, but the first half of the passage is pretty good. The last on this list for Book 8 will be the Chapman version:

“First visiting their leaders’ tents, his ample purple weed

He wore, to show all who he was, and did his station take

At wise Ulysses’ sable barks, that did the battle make

Of all the fleet; from whence his speech might with more ease be driv’n

To Ajax’ and Achilles’ ships, to whose chief charge were giv’n

The vanguard and the rearguard both, both for their force of hand,

And trusty bosoms. ” -Homer, Chapman Translation

Part of the problem with this one from Chapman is it doesn’t read well to a modern. It was done in the 1600s I believe, so obviously, there’s going to be differences in how people wrote and talked. This concludes the first passage. Now we move onto Book 11:

Book 11

This passage almost mimics the one from book 8. Eris arrives on the battlefield and sets herself again at Odysseus’s ship to scream her terrible scream of strife and discord.

“She took her stand Near the great black hull of Odysseus’ ship, Which lay in the middle, so a shout could reach Ajax’s huts on one end of camp and Achilles’ On the other. These two had beached their ships [10]   On the flanks, confident in their manhood.” -Homer, Lombardo Translation

Again in this passage, I prefer the Lombardo translation. It’s simple and shows the manliness the Trojan War Heroes.

“She took her place on the huge-hollowed black ship of Odysseus which lay in the middle, so that she could cry out to both flanks, either as far as the shelters of Telamonian Aias

or to those of Achilleus; since these had hauled their balanced ships up at the ends, certain of their manhood and their hands' strength.” -Homer, Lattimore Translation

Lattimore comes in at number two. He adds in “their hand’s strength” which Lombardo leaves out. Most of the translators talk about their arm’s strength, so those are probably more accurate translations, but I still enjoy Lombardo’s over the others.

“On the huge black ship that brought Ulysses, in the centre of the fleet, She stood, where she might shout to either side,—To Telamonian Ajax in his tents And to Achilles, who had ranged their ships At each extreme of the Achaian camp, Relying on their valor and strong arms.” -Homer, Bryant Translation

The Bryant and the Chapman are older, so you’ll notice variations in spelling, as well as, use of the Roman equivalents of names like Jupiter instead of Zeus.

“She stopped by Odysseus’s ship, black and deep-hulled,​5 that lay halfway along, so a shout could reach either end, could be heard at the huts both of Aias, Telamōn’s son, and those of Achilles—the two who had drawn up their trim ships furthest away, relying on their prowess, their hands’ strength.” -Homer, Green Translation

Green and Bryant are almost equal in my opinion. I’ll say for overall readability for the modern, Green is not a bad choice.

“She stood on Odysseus' huge black-bellied hull,

moored mid-line so a shout could reach both wings,

upshore to Telamonian Ajax' camp or down to Achilles'-

trusting so to their arms' power and battle-strength

they'd hauled their trim ships up on either flank.” -Homer, Fagles Translation

“She took her horrid stand

Upon Ulysses’ huge black bark, that did at anchor ride

Amidst the fleet, from whence her sounds might ring on ev’ry side,

Both to the tents of Telamon, and th’ author of their smarts,

Who held, for fortitude and force, the navy’s utmost parts.” -Homer, Chapman Translation

Rounding out the bottom for me is Fagles and Chapman. One thing I do like about Fagles is that it does sound really good. Fagles is also good translation for modern to read on first time. I wish more of these translations started like Chapman’s however, when he started with “She took her horrid stand.” The problem though is how did Achilles become “th’author?” Maybe someone can fill me in on this? We move onwards to powerful scene in Book 16.

Book 16

The passage of Book 16 is Achilles getting his Myrmidons ready to go into battle with Patroclus. It’s likened to the idea of the Aryan wolf cults. Here is where the older translations seem to do a better job and my favorite falls short. Homer’s similes are very strong and the strength of your translation will depend on how they handle them. We will start which the best:

“Meanwhile Achilles armed the Myrmidons, Passing from tent to tent. Like ravening wolves,

Terribly strong, that, having slain among The hills an antlered stag of mighty size,

Tear and devour it, while their jaws are stained With its red blood, then gather in a herd About some darkly flowing stream, and lap The sullen water with their slender tongues,

And drop the clots of blood from their grim mouths, And, although gorged, are fierce and fearless still,

So came the leaders of the Myrmidons, In rushing crowds, about the valiant friend Of swift AEacides. Among them stood Achilles, great in war, encouraging

The charioteers and warriors armed with shields.” -Homer, Bryant translation

The Bryant flows well from describing Achilles getting the Myrmidons armed to the comparison to the wolves taking down a stag, and then comes right back to the Myrmidons ready to go, being encouraged by the great runner. I think the best translations are like this. There’s big problem with Lombardo translation which I will talk about a little later.

“And now, before his tents,

Himself had seen his Myrmidons, in all habiliments

Of dreadful war. And when ye see, upon a mountain bred,[2]

A den of wolves, about whose hearts unmeasur’d strengths are fed,

New come from currie of a stag, their jaws all blood-besmear’d,

And when from some black-water fount they all together herd,

There having plentifully lapp’d, with thin and thrust out tongues,

The top and clearest of the spring, go belching from their lungs

The clotter’d gore, look dreadfully, and entertain no dread,

Their bellies gaunt all taken up, with being so rawly fed;

Then say, that such, in strength and look, were great Achilles’ men Now order’d for the dreadful fight; and so with all them then

Their princes and their chiefs did show, about their Gen’ral’s friend;

His friend, and all, about himself; who chiefly did intend

Th’ embattelling of horse and foot.” -Homer, Chapman Translation

BAP put up this one onto twatter awhile back and it too is very good. When it comes to doing Homer’s similes, the older translations show themselves to be superior to the new translations.

“Meanwhile Achilles went to and fro through the huts,​155 getting the Myrmidons armed in their battle gear: like wolves that devour raw flesh, boundless fury in their hearts, and have killed a great antlered stag up in the mountains, and tear at the corpse, their jaws all reddened with blood, and then go off in a pack to some black-water spring​160 to lap with their narrow tongues at its dark flow’s surface, belching up blood from the killing, while in their breasts the spirit is dauntless, and their bellies are glutted—so did the Myrmidons’ leaders and chieftains quickly assemble around the noble henchman of Aiakos’s swift-foot grandson,​165 while there in the midst of them stood warlike Achilles, urging on both horses and shield-bearing warriors.” -Homer, Green Translation

I do like the Green translations over the other modern translations, though not how they phrase Achilles getting his men in gear in the beginning. The flow into the simile is very good as well.

“Prince Achilles, ranging his ranks of Myrmidons, arrayed them along the shelters, all in armor. Hungry as wolves that rend and bolt raw flesh, hearts filled with battle-frenzy that never dies-

off on the cliffs, ripping apart some big antlered stag

they gorge on the kill till all their jaws drip red with blood, 190 then down in a pack they lope to a pooling, dark spring,

their lean sharp tongues lapping the water's surface,

belching bloody meat, but the fury, never shaken,

builds inside their chests though their glutted bellies burst-

so wild the Myrmidon captains, Myrmidon field commanders

swarming round Achilles' dauntless friend-in-arms.

And there in the midst Achilles stood like the god of war, urging his charioteers and fighters bracing shields.” -Homer, Fagles

I don’t know why Fagles had to add in “Prince” at the beginning. I haven’t seen another translation that does this. The transition into the simile is not well done. The very end part with Achilles standing like a “god of war” was a nice touch though.

“153 But Achilleus went meanwhile to the Myrmidons, and arrayed them all in their war gear along the shelters. And they, as wolves who tear flesh raw, in whose hearts the battle fury is tireless, who have brought down a great horned stag in the mountains, and then

feed

on him, till the jowls of every wolf run blood, and then go 160 all in a pack to drink from a spring of dark-running water, lapping with their lean tongues along the black edge of the surface and belching up the clotted blood; in the heart of each one is a spirit untremulous, but their bellies are full and groaning; as such the lords of the Myrmidons and their men of counsel

16s around the brave henchman of swift-footed Aiakides swarmed, and among them was standing warlike Achilleus and urged on the fighting men with their shields, and the horses.” -Homer, Lattimore Translation

The Lattimore translation feels very disjointed to me and doesn’t read well. Especially in the transition into the simile. The simile itself is written very well, but I’m just not fond of the transitions in and out of it.

“Achilles toured the rows of huts That composed the Myrmidons’ camp And saw to it the men got armed.

Think of wolves Ravenous for meat. It is impossible To describe their savage strength in the hunt, But after they have killed an antlered stag [170]    Up in the hills and torn it apart, they come down With gore on their jowls, and in a pack {310} Go to lap the black surface water in a pool Fed by a dark spring, and as they drink, Crimson curls float off from their slender tongues. But their hearts are still, and their bellies gorged.

So too the Myrmidon commanders Flanking Achilles’ splendid surrogate, And in their midst stood Achilles himself, Urging on the horses and the men.” -Homer, Lombardo Translation

Now we get into why the newer translation do not do as well as the older ones. The worst offender was my most enjoyable listen, the Lombardo translation. Something the old translations do well, is merge the simile with what’s going on. Lombardo had different mindset which, in my opinion, takes away from the brilliance of Homer’s similes. When you listen to the audio of Lombardo translation, the moment the simile starts(which is why I italicized text), some weird background music plays and the simile is described. You sort of get thrown off track and don’t take in the simile the way I gather Homer wanted it to be taken in.

Which Iliad translation is the best? Which one should you read?

This is a question you have to ask more information for. BAP has said that Lattimore’s is best overall. If you want to go to the rankings in this guide, they are as follows with their point totals next to them(lower the better):

1. Bryant 7

2. Lombardo 8

3. Lattimore 9

4. Green 11

5. Chapman 12

6. Fagles 13

You shouldn’t follow my ranking of them, however(unless you want to). First, I have only ranked based off three passages of the books, not the entire books. Also earlier, I said that the Iliad should be experienced in audio form and I think there is only audibles of Lombardo and Lattimore easily available. It also matters how you’re coming to the Iliad. Is this your first time reading the Iliad, I recommend a newer translation as the older ones of Bryant and Chapman will be hard going for a modern. My fren Cimmerian Pervert used Fagles translation for his men’s group and he liked it. It seems to be the one I see most mentioned. But he’s also last in these rankings, wat means.

Lombardo was my first time listening to Iliad and I highly recommend for first timers. The problem is how he chooses to do the similes which are inferior to Chapman and Bryant. Lattimore version of audio is good as well, just keep in mind the names are different(Aias instead of Ajax for example).  Green seems to read really well, I could see it being a good choice to someone who wants to read the text first. Bryant’s translation which you can find on Imperium Press seems to have won out in this guide which makes me think I should do a read through. Chapman from my experience is a hard read, but how he does Book 16 passage is top notch.

It’s my recommendation to only go to Bryant or Chapman, if you’re already read the Iliad. If you haven’t, listen to Lombardo or read Lattimore or Green. If you want to read the similes in what I consider their best form, you do Bryant.

What did you think about this guide? Do you agree? Or am I totally off base? Any passages you think I should have compared instead?

BONUS 4th Passage: I decided to do one more passage as two of the above were similar. I will update rankings below.

Book 21

Achilles demonstrates his ARISTEIA after the death of Patroclus and goes on a rampage, slaughtering the Trojans and their allies, choking the river with blood. He comes across a man who claimed to be the son of a river God. After dominating him completely, Achilles goes off about how he’s the son of ZEUS and no son of a river or ocean holds a candle next to the Son of Kronos. Imagine dying by Achilles’s spear and as the world goes dark, Achilles starts trashing your bloodline. I give Bryant the nod as of my favorite version of this scene.

“Lie there! a perilous task it was for thee To combat with a son of Jove, though born Thyself to a great River. I can boast

Descent from sovereign Jove. I owe my birth To Peleus, ruler of the Myrmidons.

His father was Æacus, who was born To Jupiter, a god more potent far

Than all the rivers flowing to the sea.

And mightier is the race of Jupiter

Than that of any stream. Here close at hand

Is a great river, if such aid can aught Avail thee; but to strive with Jupiter Is not permitted. Achelous, king Of rivers, cannot vie with him, nor yet The great and mighty deep from which proceed All streams and seas and founts and watery depths.

He trembles at the bolt of mighty love And his hoarse thunder crashing in the sky." -Homer, Bryant Translation

Coming in at number two is the Lattimore translation. It sounded really good in audio format as well. The problem as we go down the list however, is it starts to sound jumbled and hard to read, but the first three however, aren’t bad.

“'Lie so: it is hard even for those sprung of a river

to fight against the children of Kronos, whose strength is almighty.

You said you were of the generation of the wide-running river, but I claim that I am of the generation of great Zeus.

The man is my father who is lord over many Myrmidons, Peleus, Aiakos' son, but Zeus was the father of Aiakos.

And as Zeus is stronger than rivers that run to the sea, so the generation of Zeus is made stronger than that of a river.

For here is a great river beside you, if he were able to help; but it is not possible to fight Zeus, son of Kronos.

Not powerful Acheloios matches his strength against Zeus,

of Axios,

not the enormous strength of Ocean with his deep-running waters,

Ocean, from whom all rivers are and the entire sea

and all springs and all deep wells have their waters of him, yet

even Ocean is afraid of the lightning of great Zeus

and the dangerous thunderbolt when it breaks from the sky crashing.” -Homer, Lattimore Translation

Lombardo I think is a good translation for those experiencing Homer for the first time. He makes it enjoyable, but it’s not always faithful. After reading Lombardo, it’d be better to go to Bryant or Lattimore next time you read Iliad.

“Lie there like that! Sons of Zeus almighty Are too tough for even a river’s offspring. You say you are born from a wide-flowing river, But I boast that I am descended from Zeus. My father rules the Myrmidons, Peleus, Son of Aeacus, and Aeacus came from Zeus. And just as Zeus is stronger than any river, {409} [200]  Zeus’ sons are stronger than any river’s sons. There’s a great river beside you right now, If he can help, but no one fights Zeus, Not even the great Achelous, not even Ocean, From whose deeps every river and sea, Every spring and well flows. Even he fears The lightning of Zeus and his crackling thunder.” -Homer, Lombardo Translation

“Lie there! It’s hard to strive with the sons of mighty Kronos, even for someone sired by a River! You claim​185 a wide-flowing River for ancestor, whereas I declare myself of the lineage of mighty Zeus! The man who begot me is lord over the numerous Myrmidons— Pēleus, Aiakos’s son; it was Zeus who sired Aiakos. So, as Zeus is mightier than all seaward-flowing rivers,​190 Zeus’s line likewise outranks a River’s ancestry! You may have a great River beside you—always supposing it can protect you: but still there’s no fighting Kronos’s son Zeus! With him not even the lord Achelōïos contends, nor the vast might of deep-flowing Ocean, from whom​195 all rivers derive, and the whole mass of the sea, and every spring and deep well has its beginning; no, even he goes in fear of the bolt of mighty Zeus, and his awesome thunder, whenever it crashes out of the sky.” -Homer, Green Translation

Chapman with that 1600s translation is hard to read. Some of the passages such as the one with the Myrmidons preparing to fight with Patroclus that I looked at earlier works really well.  This one however, not as inviting to introducing someone to Iliad.

“Lie there, and prove it dangerous to lift up adverse head

Against Jove’s sons, although a Flood were ancestor to thee.

Thy vaunts urg’d him, but I may vaunt a higher pedigree

From Jove himself. King Peleüs was son to Æacus,

Infernal Æacus to Jove, and I to Peleüs.

Thunder-voic’d Jove far passeth floods, that only murmurs raise

With earth and water as they run with tribute to the seas;

And his seed theirs exceeds as far. A Flood, a mighty Flood,

Rag’d near thee now, but with no aid; Jove must not be withstood.

King Achelous yields to him, and great Oceanus,

Whence all floods, all the sea, all founts, wells, all deeps humorous,

Fetch their beginnings; yet ev’n he fears Jove’s flash, and the crack

His thunder gives, when out of heav’n it tears atwo his rack.”[2]” -Homer, Chapman Translation

Fagles I liked less. It’s a little repetitive to say “fight with the sons of invincible Cronus’ son.”

“Lie there with the dead! Punishing work, you see,

to fight the sons of invincible Cronus' son,

even sprung from a river as you are! You-

you claimed your birth from a river's broad stream?

Well I can boast my birth from powerful Zeus himself! My father's the man who rules the hordes of Mynnidons, Peleus, son of Aeacus, and Aeacus sprang from Zeus

and as Zeus is stronger than rivers surging out to sea, so the breed of Zeus is stronger than any stream's. Here is a great river flowing past you, look-

what help can he give you? None!

Nothing can fight the son of Cronus, Zeus.

not even Achelous king of rivers vies with Zeus,

not even the overpowering Ocean's huge high tides,

the source of all the rivers and all the seas on earth

and all springs and all deep wells-all flow from the Ocean but even the Ocean shrinks from the mighty Father's bolt when terrible thunder crashes down the skies!" -Homer, Fagles Translation

OK, so if you add new point totals, the rankings didn’t really change. I have Lattimore and Lombardo tied at #2 which is the biggest adjustment from the ranking. Fagles did not do well.

1. Bryant 8

2. Lombardo 11

3. Lattimore 11

4. Green 15

5. Chapman 17

6. Fagles 19

What do you think about this?