La metáfrasis de la Ilíada al griego vulgar. A propósito de la Ilíada de Nicolás Lucanis

Abstract

The illustrated Iliad printed in Venice in 1526 is a rare book which is interesting in several ways: a) It is the first Iliad in a modern European language, it is not a translation of the Homeric text but an adaptation or, much better, a «metaphrasis» in trochaicus octosyllabic verses from a byzantine version. b) Until the Apócopos by Bergadis in Cretan dialect appeared (Venice 1509), this Iliad was the first book printed in modern Greek. c) The metaphrasis by Lukanis shows an important publishing activity dedicated to the emigrant Greek people, to the readers of the Greek lands depending on Venice yet, as well as to the Greek speakers of the Ottoman Empire. d) Culturally speaking. Lukanis’ Iliad demonstrates that in the 16th century a byzantine pattern of rhetorical vulgarization of the classical works was valid, that was the Hermoniakos’ Iliad.