An uncommon nineteenth-century Greek edition of Homer’s Odyssey, translated into the spoken (vernacular) Greek language by A. G. Skalidis (Α. Γ. Σκαλίδης) and printed in Athens in 1873 by N. G. Passaris.
Issued during a pivotal period in the history of the Modern Greek language, this edition reflects the growing movement to make the masterpieces of ancient Greek literature accessible to a broader readership through the kathomiloumeni (spoken language). Long before the official adoption of Demotic Greek, translations such as this played an important role in educational reform and the democratization of classical literature.
Bibliographical Details
Author: Homer
Translator: A. G. Skalidis (Α. Γ. Σκαλίδης)
Title: Ομήρου Οδύσσεια – Μετενεχθείσα εις την Καθωμιλημένην
(Homer’s Odyssey – Rendered into the Spoken Greek Language)
Place of publication: Athens
Printer: N. G. Passaris
Year: 1873
Language: Greek
Binding: Contemporary hard binding
Pagination: 396 pages
Dimensions: 17.5 cm × 11.5 cm
Historical Importance
This edition belongs to the important nineteenth-century movement to bridge the gap between Ancient Greek literature and contemporary readers. Rather than presenting the original Homeric text alone, Skalidis translated the Odyssey into the language spoken by educated Greeks of his time, making one of the foundational works of Western literature accessible to students and the general public.
Published only a few decades after Greek independence, the volume reflects the broader cultural effort to define the linguistic and educational identity of the modern Greek state. Editions of this kind are significant not only for their literary content but also for their contribution to the history of Modern Greek language reform and classical education.
Condition
Complete: 396 pages
Contemporary hard binding
Sound and well-preserved for its age
General age-related wear and toning consistent with a book published in 1873
Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description and condition assessment.
An attractive nineteenth-century edition of one of the greatest works of world literature, combining Homeric scholarship, early Modern Greek translation, and the history of Greek printing. A desirable acquisition for collectors of classical literature, Greek books, nineteenth-century printing, and the history of the Greek language.
