Richmond Lattimore and Herbert Jordan offer distinct translations of Homer's "Iliad," each with its own stylistic approach. Lattimore's translation is known for its fidelity to the original Greek text, aiming to preserve the poetic structure and formal tone of the epic. His version uses elevated and sometimes archaic language to maintain the dignified essence of the original. For example, Lattimore's opening lines emphasize the grandeur and calamity with phrases such as "the house of Hades strong souls" and "brilliant Achilleus." Similarly, in passages like Athena encouraging Diomedes, Lattimore employs rich, descriptive language, calling Ares a "double-faced liar," which closely mirrors the original Greek's style and thematic weight. In contrast, Herbert Jordan's translation seeks to present the "Iliad" in a more contemporary and accessible language without losing the epic's grandeur. Jordan tends to simplify the sentence structure and modernizes the vocabulary, making it easier for contemporary readers to engage with the text. In the introduction of the poem, Jordan uses straightforward phrases such as "Achilles' anger, ruinous," directly communicating the poem’s themes without the complex syntax often found in Lattimore's translation. In the scene where Athena speaks to Diomedes, Jordan opts for clarity and impact by calling Ares a "frenzied two-faced pest," which differs from Lattimore's more formal phrasing. Overall, both translations capture the essence of the "Iliad," but they appeal to different audiences; Lattimore’s resonates with those who appreciate a more classical and literal approach, whereas Jordan's speaks to readers who favor clarity and readability.
Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son Achilleus
and its devastation, which puts pains thousandfold upon the Achaians,
hurled in their multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls
of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting
of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished
since that time when first there stood in division of conflict
Atreus' son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus.
Sing, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles' anger,
ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals,
consigned to Hades countless valiant souls,
heroes, and left their bodies prey for dogs
or feast for vultures. Zeus's will was done
from when those two first quarreled and split apart,
the king, Agamemnon, and matchless Achilles.