Homer's epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey, are perhaps the most well-known epic poems from Ancient Greek literature. The vast majority of people who engage with these texts do so in translation. Many translations of these works are available, but each reflects a certain amount of bias. The process of translation is fluid and dynamic, with many Ancient Greek words holding several possible meanings depending on the time period and literature they appear in. It is this flexibility in interpretation that leaves a translation subject to bias and error. The perspective of the translator is almost always imbued in the translation, which consequently influences the audience's perception of characters and their statuses in the work. In this presentation I highlight the ways in which a translator's choices can dramatically alter the audience's understanding of female characters and their statuses within The Iliad and The Odyssey.
I focus in this presentation on two Ancient Greek words in particular: ἄκοιτις and ἄλοχος. Both terms most basically mean "bedmate," and can be used in reference to wives of male characters, but my research suggests that these words are not interchangeable. While ἄκοιτις refers exclusively to wedded wives, ἄλοχος can also refer to non-wedded bedmates. This presentation will explore distinctions in the use of these two terms and how differences in nuance affect our understanding of various female characters in The Iliad and The Odyssey. I will also discuss examples of how the misinterpretation of these words has resulted in some misunderstandings in recent translations.