Professor Kim Heon releases 22-year translation of Homer’s Odyssey

Professor Kim Heon of the Seoul National University Institute of Humanities has released a complete translation of Homer’s ‘Odyssey’, a project that spanned 22 years.

Kim’s translation approach focuses on preserving the original linguistic structure and musicality of the ancient Greek epic. Rather than prioritizing modern readability, he opted to maintain the poem’s unique meter and word order, even when it results in unconventional sentence structures. This method aims to convey the authentic worldview and human perspective of the Homeric era.

One notable aspect of the translation is the literal rendering of ancient Greek concepts. For example, the term ‘phrenes’, often translated as wisdom or mind, has been translated as ‘diaphragm’ to reflect how ancient Greeks conceptualized intellectual activity. The work has gained significant attention following a renewed interest in classical literature.