/lit/ - Literature

I agree OP.
/lit/ needs a definitive guide.

>>6970794

The Iliad, obviously

>>6970797
>>6970806
>>6970808
No, I literally mean which book out of the two I posted.

>>6970810
>reading philosophy
You already lost

>>6970810
Doesn't matter. They're both about "Early Greek Philosophy"/"The First Philosophers"

I read both at the same time. They are split up exactly the same way and almost in the same order. Each chapter is dedicated to one philosopher. Combined they offered a fuller picture. If I were to choose only one, I would choose Early Greek Philosophy and follow it up with the penguin Sophists.

>>6970806
That Introduction to Ancient Greek History is like £35. Are there any alternatives?

>>6970873
You can find that shorter version in pdf by simply googling

>>6970843
An example of their differences: In the chapter on Pythagoras, Early Greek Philosophy does not mention any of Pythagora's mathematical work, ONLY his philosophical work which includes the ideas of reencarnation and his eccentric character. The First Philosophers explains in depth Pythagora's mathematical ideas

>>6970873
just buy it, i've got a copy of it and it's pretty good

Oxford is more annotated and in depth.

Penguin is more friendly to laymen.

zoom on the zoroastrians

>>6971026
That's because he didn't any we can pinpoint on him. Pythagoros' theorem is probably Babylonian.

>>6970794
Pre-Socratics are good OP. Read it, and then start on the list here >>6970806

>>6971433
Do not start with that list. Starting with Metaphysics is an awful idea, same with jumping into Republic to a lesser extent. Aside from philosophy that list is fine, just don't follow it's phil section.

>>6971448
this one is better for philosophy

>>6970794
You start with Homer.

For all cultures:
Read poetry,
then history,
then drama,
then oratory,
then philosophy.

Oh, and don't bother with anything written in the 20th/21st century.

>>6971448
This. I started with Metaphysics and I felt like I'd been meme'd on by an entire dead civilization. It was all out-of-date pseudoscientific nonsense.

>>6971410
We can't pinpoint anything else on him either, not any of his philosophy. Almost all of it was likely made up after the fact by his followers. Certainly the stories of him confirming he remembers his previous life times, for example.

"The Greeks" by HDF Kitto is a really great starting text. Accessible, engaging and well written, it not only provides a good grounding in Greek society (which helps understand the works when you read them), but actually makes you want to know more.

If you're looking for something more detailed, and have time to listen to lectures, I'd recommend Donald Kagan's lectures on the Open Yale Courses site: http://oyc.yale.edu/classics/clcv-205

Sorry for the lack of meme in this answer.

>>6970806
Which translation of The Illiad is the best? I want to get the Everyman's book, but I'm not sure how it compares to the others.

>>6973657
then google and compare you retard

>>6973774
Oh right, silly me. I forgot this Cantonese woodcarving forum was for memes only.

>>6973808
how about you learn to google you lazy cunt

>>6973817
>Oh right, silly me. I forgot this Cantonese woodcarving forum was for memes only.

>>6973817
call me a cunt again fucker and ill fucking rek u so hard fuck
(am i doing it right fellas XD ;))

>>6970810
probably oxford
oxford tends to be doper tbh

>>6974961

Nothing here is worth reading. I doubt anyone here seriously reads for enjoyment, rather to just brag. I'm glad nobody here will ever create anything worthy because truthfully this is the most pretentious board on 4chan. Good luck growing up though. :)

>>6975017
JANITORSS, EXERT YOUR POWER.

>>6970806
Iliad before Odyssey? I always thought Odyssey was more accessible

>>6975017
you sound mad my friend. why don't you put your head on my shoulder and tell big daddy anon all about what's troubling you?

>>6976960
well if you aint a pleb though thats how it chronologically goes. Odyssey begins after iliad

>>6970794
the greeks: volume i

>>6973426
>poetry, then history
"no"
How can you understand their culture if you don't understand the circumstances surrounding it?

>>6978853
He meant Herodotus and Thucydides