Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Archäologie des Mittelalters,
Universität Tübingen, DEU
Department of Classics, University of Cincinnati, USA
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On
April
4, 2009, the long-standing friend of Manfred Korfmann and active companion
of the Troia-Project, Joachim Latacz, celebrated his 75th birthday
in Basel. The emeritus professor of Greek Philology at the University of
Basel, an eminent Homer-expert, has earned distinction in his manifold
contributions to the Troia-Project. To the interested public he is well
known for his position in the "New Trojan Battle", last not least for his
successful book "Troy and Homer" which was published in four languages
(a Turkish translation is forthcoming).
His major effort, however, is directed towards publishing, together with Prof. Dr. A. Bierl, the "Neuer Ameis-Hentze. Ein Gesamtkommentar zu Homers Ilias" (Basler Kommentar / BK), of which four volumes have been published, and five more are being released this year.
The members of the Troia-Team submit to Joachim Latacz in gratitude their best wishes for a stable health and the preservation of his untiring energy!
COMMENTS ON TWO TOPICS THAT MADE THE NEWS IN 2008 / 9 :
- Homer-exhibition :"HOMER - DER MYTHOS
VON TROIA IN DICHTUNG UND KUNST".
The exhibition was shown from March to
August, 2008, at the Antikenmuseum / Museum Ludwig in Basel (Suisse)
and from September, 2008 through January, 2009 in the Reiss-Engelhorn
Museum Zeughaus C5 in Mannheim (concept by Profs.Dr. J.Latacz, Dr.P.Blome,
and Dr.A.Wieczorek). With about 100 000 visitors the exhibition can be
considered a success. In Mannheim a presentation of the Troia-Project was
incorporated. A detailed companion volume (see under publications) can
be recommended for retrospect study.
- WAS HOMER´S TROIA LOCATED IN CILICIA ?
Shortly before Christmas 2007 the author R.Schrott published a lengthy article in the Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung, titled: "Homers Geheimnis ist gelüftet" (F.A.Z. 22.12.2007, Nr.298 /Seite Z1). Schrott, who spent considerable time on a new transcription of the Iliad, claims that he is about to produce "cumulative circumstantial" evidence that Homer did not reside in Ionia but lived as a scribe for Assyrian rulers in Cilicia (SE-Turkey) and as such wrote down the Iliad projecting old myths from the Near East such as the Gilgamesh Epic and the Old Testament into the Troia-tales. Furthermore the events of the Iliad supposedly did not take place in western Asia Minor but in the setting of the Cilician stronghold Karatepe. As could be expected the article caused considerable reactions in the newspaper columns. We did not feel prompted to participate in the discussion since it is mainly involving philological arguments. A first reply by Homer-specialist J.Latacz appeared on January 3, 2008 in the Süddeutschen Zeitung .
The book-publication of Schrott´s hypothesis (Raoul Schrott: Homers Heimat. Der Kampf um Troia und seine realen Hintergründe. München: Carl Hanser Verlag, 2008.) prompted an archaeological response by the Troia Project: Peter Jablonka: "Homer ist, wenn man trotzdem lacht", vol. 04/2008 of the periodical "Literaturen".
In the further course of the year 2008 public debate of the issue became manifold following the presentation of the new Iliad-Transcription by R.Schrott by public readings in some radiostations and its book-publication (Homer, Ilias. Übertragen von Raoul Schrott. Commented by Peter Mauritsch. München: Carl Hanser Verlag, 2008.) Subsequently both books were in focus of public discussions with scholars of ancient philology and history and - occasionally archaeologists.
Among manifold critical
treatments especially with respect to the Iliad-transcription two reviews
are mentioned that are also available online:
Edzard Visser, Philologie
aktuell: Homer. Pegasus-Onlineperiodical VIII/2 (2008), 53-88. The
article treats recent philological issues concerning Homer (modern translations
and commentaries). On the pages 65/66 and 80/83 the Iliad transcription
by R.Schrott as well as his hypothesis on Homer´s origin are critically
reviewed. (http://www.pegasus-onlinezeitschrift.de/2008_2/erga_2_2008_visser.html
)
In Bryn Mawr Classical Review (BMCR) a short version of a review od the two Homer-books by R.Schrott and authored by Paul Draeger (Trier) was recently published under: http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2009/2009-08-30.html ). The unabridged version is available under: http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/troia/deu/Rezension-Schrott-Homer.pdf (540 kB)
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