DoomsdaysCWJul 1, 2025

[Thread] So, my "homework" assignment has to do with #Amazons -- one of my favorite topics to focus on (since I was 11 years old). I was recently gifted a new book about Amazons, and also had one that I picked up for myself years ago, but hadn't gotten around to reading yet. The books are: "The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across The Ancient World" by Adrienne Mayor (2014), and "Amazons: The History Behind the Legend" by David Braund. Both of them are Classics scholars, but they seem to have completely different takes on Amazons (from what I've read in the reviews). And yes, I am planning on diving into both books, but first, I'm going to work on my own translations of certain passages in #TheIlliad and #Herodotus' "Histories"!

#Classics #Histodon #AncientGreece #BronzeAge #WarriorWomen #AncientHistory #WomenInTheAncientWorld

Show threadDoomsdaysCWJul 1, 2025

I am well-armed with all of my notes from class as well as my trusty Duckworth Homeric Dictionary! And, of course, there's Perseus Hopper to the rescue! (Thank the gods that website is still working!)

#Classics #Histodon #AncientGreece #BronzeAge #WarriorWomen #AncientHistory
#WomenInTheAncientWorld

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=*%29amazo%2Fnas&la=greek&can=*%29amazo%2Fnas0&prior=kate/pefnen&d=Perseus:text:1999.01.0133:book=6:card=156&i=1

Show threadDoomsdaysCWJul 1, 2025

I'll be doing my own translation of this passage...

"καρτίστην δὴ τήν γε μάχην φάτο δύμεναι ἀνδρῶν.
τὸ τρίτον αὖ κατέπεφνεν Ἀμαζόνας ἀντιανείρας."

#Classics #Histodon #AncientGreece #BronzeAge #WarriorWomen #AncientHistory
#WomenInTheAncientWorld

Show threadDoomsdaysCW

DONE! My translation is just a wee bit different than Fagles and Lombardo.

"Next, [Bellerophon] fought against the renowned Solymi, who were renowed in battle in the past. Thus, at any rate, it was said to be the strongest battle he had ever entered into. And thus furthermore, lastly, he slew the Amazons, who were a match for men."

And yes, if my translation sounds FORMAL, that's because Homeric Greek is FORMAL!

#Classics #Histodon #AncientGreece #BronzeAge #WarriorWomen #AncientHistory
#WomenInTheAncientWorld

Jul 3, 2025 at 4:11pmWeb
Show threadPatrick VanhouckeJul 3, 2025

@DoomsdaysCW Or at B1 level:

Next, Bellerophon fought against the famous Solymi, who were known for being strong in battle. People said this was the hardest fight he had ever been in. After that, he fought and killed the Amazons, who were as strong as men.

No criticism of your translation whatsoever, just a little experiment.

Show threadDoomsdaysCWJul 3, 2025
@librarianbe Hey, so what do you think of Pausanias account of Amazons being devotees of Artemis?
Show threadPatrick VanhouckeJul 3, 2025
@DoomsdaysCW Pausanias says that the Amazons worshipped Artemis, the goddess of hunting and wild places.
Show threadDoomsdaysCWJul 3, 2025
@librarianbe And I wonder if that's possibly an allusion to Amazons existing in Ephesus? I'm working on some possibilities of who the Amazons were, if they existed. And perhaps they were many "groups" of them? Pockets or even societies that bucked the patriarchal system, but were then "erased" or reduced to mere tropes?
Show threadDoomsdaysCWJul 3, 2025
@librarianbe So, I've read that "#Artemis" was NOT Hellenic -- and was probably way older. Possibly connected to #Britomartis (Crete) and may actually be Neolithic. Her name #Arktos may indicate a connection to Indo-European Bear cults.
Show threadDoomsdaysCWJul 3, 2025
@librarianbe And yeah. One of my Greek teachers used to chide me for my "formal" translations. Of course, this was before my diagnosis of Autism. So, yeah. That's my style!
Show threadPatrick VanhouckeJul 3, 2025
@DoomsdaysCW I must confess that I am unfortunately not very familiar with Homer or Pausanias. I had a rather scientific education.
Show threadDoomsdaysCWJul 3, 2025
@librarianbe And you know, since Homeric Greek has all those extra formal tenses, it should be translated that way (imho). But then again, I appreciate formal language like "thee" and "thou" and "I shall".