Translators and scholars have translated the main works attributed to Homer, the Iliad and Odyssey, from the Homeric Greek into English, since the 16th and 17th centuries. Translations are ordered chronologically by date of first publication, with first lines provided to illustrate the style of the translation.
Not all translators translated both the Iliad and Odyssey; in addition to the complete translations listed here, numerous partial translations, ranging from several lines to complete books, have appeared in a variety of publications.
The "original" text cited below is that of "the Oxford Homer".. A previous edition of the Oxford was put up on Perseus Digital Library as "Homer. Homeri Opera in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920," with the title translated.
Iliad Reference text (Homer, 8th century BC, Greek rhapsode, Aeolis)Homer. Homeri Opera in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920 Original GreekRomanization
16th and 17th centuries (1581–1700) Translator Publication Proemic verse NameDetailsYearPlace Arthur Hallof Grantham 1539–1605,M. P., courtier, translator 1581 London, for Ralph Newberie I Thee beseech, O Goddesse milde, the hatefull hate to plaine, Whereby Achilles was so wroong, and grewe in suche disdaine, Roger Rawlyns 1587 London, Orwin Peter Colse 1596 London, H. Jackson George Chapman 1559–1634,dramatist, poet, classicist 1611–15 London, Rich. Fieldfor Nathaniell Butter Achilles' banefull wrath resound, O Goddesse, that imposd Infinite sorrowes on the Greekes, and many brave soules losdChapman, George. Chapman's Homer: The Iliad. Allardyce Nicoll, ed. Princeton University Press. 1998. Thomas Grantham c. 1610–1664 1659 London, T. LockAchilles son of Peleus Goddes sing, His baneful wrath which to the Greeks did bring Unnumbred greifs, brave souls to hel did send John Ogilby 1600–1676,cartographer, publisher, translator 1660 London, Roycroft Achilles Peleus Son's destructive Rage, Great Goddess, sing, which did the Greeks engage John Ogilby Thomas Hobbes 1588–1679,philosopher, etc. 1676 London, W. Crook sing what woe the discontent Of Thetis' son brought to the Greeks; what souls Of heroes down to Erebus it sent, John Dryden 1631–1700,dramatist,Poet Laureate 1700 London, J. Tonson of Peleus Son, O Muse, resound; Whose dire Effects the Grecian Army found:
Early 18th century (1701–1750) Translator Publication Proemic verse Ozell, John d. 1743,translator, accountant 1712 London, Bernard Lintott Broome, William 1689–1745,poet, translator Oldisworth, William 1680–1734 Pope,Alexander 1688–1744,poet 1715–20 London, Bernard Lintot Achilles' wrath, to Greece the direful spring Of woes unnumber'd, heavenly goddess, sing! Tickell,Thomas 1685–1740,poet 1715 London, TickellAchilles' fatal wrath, whence discord rose, That brought the sons of Greece unnumber'd woes, Fenton,Elijah 1683–1730,poet, biographer, translator 1717 London, printed for Bernard Lintot Cooke,T. 1729 Fitz-Cotton,H. 1749 Dublin, George Faulkner Ashwick,Samuel 1750 London, printed for Brindley, Sheepey and Keith
Late 18th century (1751–1800) Translator Publication Proemic verse Scott,J. N. 1755 London, Osborne and Shipton Langley,Samuel, 1720–1791Rector of Checkley 1767 London, Dodsley Macpherson,James 1736–1796,poet, compiler of Scots Gaelic poems, politician 1773 London, T. Becket The wrath of the son of Peleus,—O goddess of song, unfold! The deadly wrath of Achilles : To Greece the source of many woes! Cowper,William 1731–1800,poet and hymnodist 1791 London, J. Johnson Achilles sing, O Goddess! Peleus' son; His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woes Tremenheere, William 1757–1838Chaplain to the Royal Navy 1792 London, Faulder? Geddes,Alexander 1737–1802,Scots Roman Catholic theologian; scholar, poet 1792 London: printed for J. Debrett Bak,Joshua(T. Bridges?) 1797 London
Early 19th century (1801–1850) Translator Publication Proemic verse Williams, Peter? Bulmer, William 1757–1830,printer 1807 The stern resentment of Achilles, son Of Peleus, Muse record,—dire source of woe; Cowper,William (3rd edition) 1731–1800,poet and hymnodist 1809 Sing Muse the deadly wrath of Peleus' son Achilles, source of many thousand woes Morrice,Rev. James 1809 , Muse, the fatal wrath of Peleus' son, Which to the Greeks unnumb'red evils brought, Cary,Henry 1772–1844,author, translator 1821 London, Munday and Slatter Sing, Goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, which brought many disasters upon the Greeks, Sotheby,William 1757–1833,poet, translator 1831 London, John Murray Anonymous A Graduate Of The University of Oxford 1847 Dublin, Cumming and Ferguson Sing, Goddess, the fatal resentment of Achilles, the son of Peleus, which caused innumerable woes to the Achaeans, and prematurely despatched many brave souls of heroes to Orcus, and made themselves (i.e. their bodies) a prey to dogs and all birds, (for the counsel of Jove was being accomplished,) from the time that Atrides, king of men, and the noble Achilles, first contending, were disunited. Munford,William 1775–1825,American lawyer 1846 Boston, Little Brown Brandreth,Thomas Shaw 1788–1873,mathematician, inventor, classicist 1846 London, W. Pickering Achillies wrath accurst, O Goddess, sing, Which caused ten thousand sorrows to the Greeks,
Late middle 19th century (1851–1875) Translator Publication Proemic verse Buckley,Theodore Alois 1825–1856,translator 1851 London, H. G. Bohn Sing, O goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, which brought countless woes upon the Greeks, Hamilton,Sidney G. 1855–58 Philadelphia Clark, Thomas Newman,Francis William 1807–1893,classics professor 1856 London, Walton & Maberly Of Peleus' son, Achilles, sing, oh goddess, the resentment Accursed, which with countless pangs Achaia's army wounded, Wright,Ichabod Charles 1795–1871,translator, poet, accountant 1858–65 Cambridge, Macmillan Giles, Rev. Dr. J. A. [John Allen] 1808–1884,headmaster, scholar, prolific author, clergyman 1861–82 Sing, O goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles son of Peleus, which caused ten thousand thousand griefs to the Achæans Dart, J. Henry 1817–1887,East India Company counsel 1862 London, Longmans Green Sing, divine Muse, sing the implacable wrath of Achilleus! Heavy with death and with woe to the banded sons of Achaia! Barter, William G. T 1808–1871,barrister 1864 London, Longman, Brown, and Green The wrath of Peleus' son Achilles sing, O goddess, wrath destructive, that did on Norgate, T. S. [Thomas Starling, Jr.] 1807–1893,clergyman 1864 London, Williams and Norgate Goddess! O sing the wrath of Pêleus' son, Achillès' wrath,—baneful,—that on the Achaians Derby,14th Earl ofSmith-Stanley, Edward14th Earl of derby 1799–1869,Prime Minister 1864 Of Peleus' son, Achilles, sing, O Muse, The vengeance, deep and deadly; whence to Greece Simcox,Edwin W. 1865 London, Jackson, Walford and Hodder Worsley, Philip Stanhope 1835–1866,poet 1865 Edinburgh and London, William Blackwood and Sons Wrath of Achilleus, son of Peleus, sing, O heavenly Muse, which in its fatal sway Conington, John 1825–1869,classics professor Blackie,John Stuart 1809–1895,Scots professor of classics 1866 Edinburgh, Edmonston and Douglas The baneful wrath, O goddess, sing, of Peleus' son, the source Of sorrows dire, and countless woes to all the Grecian force; Calverley,Charles Stuart 1831–1884,poet, wit 1866 The wrath of Peleus' son, that evil wrath Which on Achaia piled a myriad woes, Herschel,Sir John 1792–1871,scientist 1866 London & Cambridge, Macmillan Sing, celestial Muse! the destroying wrath of Achilles, Peleus' son: which myriad mischiefs heaped on the Grecians, Omega 1866 London: Hatchard and Co. , Achilles' scathing wrath, which bore A thousand sorrows to Achaia's shore— Cochrane,James Inglis 1867 Edinburgh Sing, O heavenly goddess, the wrath of Peleides Achilles, Ruinous wrath, whence numberless woes came down to Achaia, Merivale,Charles,Dean of Ely 1808–1893,clergyman, historian 1868 London, Strahan Peleïdes Achilles, his anger, Goddess, sing; Fell anger, fated on the Greeks ten thousand woes to bring; Gilchrist,James 1869 Sing, Goddess, the pernicious wrath of Achilles the son of Peleus, which caused innumerable woes to the Greeks, Bryant,William Cullen 1794–1878,American poet, Evening Post editor 1870 Boston, Houghton, Fields Osgood O goddess! sing the wrath of Peleus' son, Achilles; sing the deadly wrath that brought Caldcleugh,W. G. 1812–1872,American lawyer 1870 Philadelphia, Lippincott Sing of Achilles' wrath, oh heavenly muse, Which brought upon the Greeks unnumbered woes, Rose,John Benson 1874 London, privately printed
Late 19th century (1876–1900) Translator Publication Proemic verse Barnard,Mordaunt Roger 1828–1906,clergyman, translator 1876 London, Williams and Margate Cayley, C. B.[Charles Bagot] 1823–1883,translator 1877 London, Longmans Muse, of Pelidéan Achilles sing the resentment Ruinous, who brought down many thousand griefs on Achaians, Mongan,Roscoe 1879 London, James Cornish & Sons Hailstone,Herbert Cambridge classicist, poet 1882 London, Relfe Brothers Sing, goddess, the deadly wrath of Achilles, Peleus' son, which caused for the Achæans countless woes, Lang, Andrew 1844–1912,Scots poet, historian, critic, folk tales collector, etc. 1882 London, Macmillan Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus' son, the ruinous wrath that brought on the Achaians woes innumerable, Leaf, Walter 1852–1927,banker, scholar Myers, Ernest 1844–1921,poet, classicist Green,W.C. 1884 Sing, goddess Muse, the wrath of Peleus' son, The wrath of Achilleus with ruin fraught, Way,Arthur Sanders (Avia) 1847–1930,Australian classicist, headmaster 1886–8 London, S. Low The wrath of Achilles, the Peleus-begotten, O Song-queen, sing, Fell wrath, that dealt the Achaians woes past numbering; Howland,G. [George] 1824–1892,American educator, author, translator 1889 Sing for me, goddess, the wrath, the wrath of Peleian Achilles Ruinous wrath, which laid unnumbered woes on the Grecians; Cordery,John Graham 1833–1900,civil servant, British Raj 1890 London The wrath, that rose accursèd, and that laid Unnumbered sorrows on Achaia's host, Garnett,Richard 1890 Sing, Goddess, how Pelides' wrath arose, Disastrous, working Greece unnumbered woes, Purves,John 1891 London, Percival Sing, O goddess, the fatal wrath of Peleus' son Achilles, which brought ten thousand troubles on the Achæans, Bateman,C. W. c. 1895 London, J. Cornish Goddess, sing the destroying wrath of Achilles, Peleus' son, which brought woes unnumbered on the Achæans, Mongan, R. c. 1895 Butler,Samuel 1835–1902,novelist, essayist, critic 1898 London, Longmans, GreenW. J. Black (1942); AMS Press (1968) Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.
Early 20th century (1901–1925) Translator Publication Tibbetts,E. A. 1907 Boston, R.G. Badges Blakeney,E. H. 1869–1955,educator, classicist, poet 1909–13 London, G. Bell and Sons Sing, O goddess, the accursèd wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, the wrath which brought countless sorrows unto the Achaians Lewis,Arthur Garner 1911 New York, Baker & Taylor Murray,Augustus Taber 1866–1940,American professor of classics 1924–5 Cambridge & London, Harvard & Heinemann The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans,
Early middle 20th century (1926–1950)