The following are a few classical texts, gems of literature
and of the human intellect. Presented through my applet, the
Classics Reader, which shows the original text on the left, and
translations on the right.Enjoy!
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Homer: The
Odyssey |
The legendary journey and adventures of the mythical
hero, king Odysseus, who, leaving victoriously the
battlefields at Troy, attempted to return to his home, on
the island of Ithaca.
Translation in English by Samuel Butler, and in Modern
Greek by Argyris Eftaliotis, completed by Harry
Foundalis. |
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Herodotus:
Histories |
Herodotus is considered the “father of history”.
His work details the failed attempts of Persians to
subdue the Greeks, in the 5th century BC. Some believe
that the course of Western history — and, by extension,
of world history — would be entirely different, had the
Persians succeeded.
Translation in English and Modern Greek by Harry
Foundalis (partial). |
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Euclid: The
Elements |
Euclid’s Elements presented geometry for the first
time in a comprehensive, rigorous, axiomatic way. The
contents of the book remained unchallenged in mathematics
for over 2,000 years.
Translation in English and Modern Greek by Harry
Foundalis (up to the axioms or common notions only) |
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Bible: New Testament |
The New Testament, which was written in Greek within the 1st C. AD,
is the holy book of Christianity, a religion that spread like wildfire
in the world, and is still the religion with the largest number of
adherents.
Translation in English: Young’s literal translation. |
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Cavafy: Poems |
Constantine P. Cavafy is one of the most important
modern Greek poets. He lived and produced his poetry in
Alexandria, Egypt, at the turn of the 19th to 20th
century.
Translations by Samuel B. Johnson, Karen Dang, et al. |
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