μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Homer’s Iliad 1.1 Sing Wrath, Goddess. Bettina Joy de Guzman. UCSB Concert

Sing wrath, Goddess: the wrath of a suffering hero in a time of war, when gods loved powerful queens, and mortal deeds lived forever through song. Composed and performed by Bettina Joy de Guzman on Luthieros.com phorminx (Homer, Iliad 1.1-56)

μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρί᾽ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε᾽ ἔθηκε,
πολλὰς δ᾽ ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄϊδι προΐαψεν
ἡρώων, αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν
οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσι, Διὸς δ᾽ ἐτελείετο βουλή,
ἐξ οὗ δὴ τὰ πρῶτα διαστήτην ἐρίσαντε
Ἀτρεΐδης τε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
τίς τ᾽ ἄρ σφωε θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι;
Λητοῦς καὶ Διὸς υἱός:
...
ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ἀνὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο κῆλα θεοῖο,
τῇ δεκάτῃ δ᾽ ἀγορὴν δὲ καλέσσατο λαὸν Ἀχιλλεύς:
τῷ γὰρ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη:
κήδετο γὰρ Δαναῶν, ὅτι ῥα θνήσκοντας ὁρᾶτο.

μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος.

Sing wrath, Goddess, the wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus,
that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans,
and sent forth to Hades many valiant souls of heroes,
and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus the plan of Zeus came to fulfillment,
from the time when first they parted in strife
Atreus' son, king of men, and godlike Achilles.
Who then of the gods was it that brought these two together to contend?
The son of Leto and of Zeus…

For nine days the missiles of the god ranged among the host,
but on the tenth Achilles called the people to assembly,
for in his heart, the goddess, white-armed Hera had put it,
since she pitied the Danaans, when she saw them dying.

Sing wrath, Goddess, the wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus.


Thank you for hosting the event, Dorota Dutsch, and
special thanks to Helen Morales for making it possible through the Argyropoulos endowment in Hellenic Studies.

Composer, performer: Bettina Joy de Guzman
phorminx lyre: Luthieros Music Instruments

   • Iliad 1.1-43. μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Homer A...   Iliad 1.1-43,
Day 1

   • Iliad 1.44-52. Apollo’s Wrath. Iliad ...   Iliad 1.44-52, Day 2

   • Iliad 1.53-91. Achilles calls Assembl...   Iliad 1.54-91, Day 3

   • Iliad 1.92-120. Kalchas & Agamemnon! ...   Iliad 1.92-120,
Day 4

   • Iliad 1.121-147.Agamemnon insults Ach...   Iliad 1.121-147,
Day 5

   • Iliad 1.148-171. Achilles quits! Anci...   Iliad 1.148-171, Day 6

   • Iliad 1.172-214. Athena stops Achille...   Iliad 1.172-215, Day 7

   • Iliad 1.215-246. People-Devouring Kin...   Iliad 1.215-246, Day 8

   • Iliad 1.247-284. Nestor fought with T...   Iliad 1.247-284,
Day 9