The Homeric Canon · Sub Rosa Reading Edition
The Iliad & The Odyssey
Complete, parallel reading editions of ancient literature’s foundational masterpieces. Experience the poems across four modern European languages, the original polytonic Greek, and eight distinguished historical English translations.
The Iliad
Set during the tenth year of the Trojan War, The Iliad recounts the catastrophic wrath of Achilles, the Greek champion whose quarrel with King Agamemnon leads to disaster, the death of his beloved companion Patroclus, the slaying of Hector, and the heartbreaking reconciliation between Achilles and King Priam of Troy.
The Odyssey
Ten years after the fall of Troy, Odysseus remains stranded far from home while insolent suitors devour his estate and besiege his faithful wife Penelope. Guided by Athena, his son Telemachus searches for news, while Odysseus endures mythic perils across enchanted seas to reclaim his island kingdom of Ithaca.
The Dramatis Personae
Portraits of Homeric Heroes
Twelve key figures across the Trojan War and the Nostos, rendered in Cézanne illuminated post-impressionist portraiture.
Homer
The Epic Bard
Achilles
Champion of the Myrmidons
Hector
Defender of Troy
Agamemnon
King of Mycenae
Helen
Queen of Sparta
Priam
King of Troy
Odysseus
Hero of Ithaca
Penelope
Queen of Ithaca
Telemachus
Prince of Ithaca
Athena
Goddess of Wisdom
Circe
Sorceress of Aeaea
Calypso
Nymph of Ogygia
Multilingual Editions
Five Living Language Traditions
Every line of both epics is aligned and navigable across five major literary traditions.
Ancient Greek
Ἑλληνική
Perseus Digital Library TEI XML source with 27,794 polytonic verses and full line indexing.
Modern English
English
Accurate modern prose reading edition faithful to Greek syntax without archaic obfuscation.
Modern Spanish
Español
Edición rigurosa de lectura completa traducida directamente desde el texto fuente griego.
Modern French
Français
Édition intégrale en prose moderne restituant la noblesse et l'énergie du texte homérique.
Modern German
Deutsch
Vollständige deutsche Leseausgabe mit getreuer Wiedergabe der epischen homerischen Sprache.
Key Moments
Narrative Plates of Epic Lore
Seven iconic turning points from the Trojan battlefield and the return voyage.
The Shield of Hephaestus
The god of smiths crafts a microcosm of heaven, earth, peace, and war upon the hero's shield.
Priam Ransoms Hector
The old king enters the enemy camp at night to kiss the hands that slew his son.
The Trojan Horse
The wooden stratagem by which the Achaean host brought ruin upon the towers of Ilion.
Telemachus & Athena
The goddess in disguise arrives at the hall in Ithaca to awaken courage in the young prince.
The Cave of Polyphemus
Odysseus matches wits and courage against the savage Cyclops in the sea-cavern.
The Song of the Sirens
Bound fast to the mast, the wanderer listens to the honeyed knowledge that brings destruction.
The Test of the Bow
Penelope sets her husband's great curved bow before the suitors who consume her house.
The Full 48 Books
Read by Book
Browse and read all twenty-four books of the Iliad and twenty-four books of the Odyssey.
The Iliad
24 Books · Siege of Troy
The Odyssey
24 Books · Nostos of Odysseus