Dissertation committee:
Μιχαλόπουλος Ν. Ανδρέας, Καθηγητής Λατινικής Φιλολογίας
Παπαϊωάννου Σοφία, Καθηγήτρια Λατινικής Φιλολογίας
Καρβούνη Αικατερίνη-Νίνα, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια Αρχαίας Ελληνικής Φιλολογίας
Βαϊόπουλος Βάιος, Καθηγητής Λατινικής Φιλολογίας
Γεωργακοπούλου Σοφία, Καθηγήτρια Λατινικής Φιλολογίας
Γκαράνη Μυρτώ, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια Λατινικής Φιλολογίας
Μπενέτος Διονύσιος, Καθηγητής Μεσαιωνικής Λατινικής Φιλολογίας
Summary:
This thesis presents a critical analysis of the verse translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses by the Greek scholar Philippos Ioannou (1796/80;-1880), who was one of the earliest professors of Philology at the Ottonian University of Athens. This study represents the first attempt at systematically examining and evaluating Ioannou’s translation work. The reason for selecting Ioannou’s translation is that it is the only one of its kind in dactylic hexameter and Homeric dialect, whereas all other translations of Ovid’s Metamorphoses fall into two categories: those in the Koinē (“the vernacular language”) language and those in the Katharevousa (“the purified language”). It is worth noting that Ioannou’s translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, along with Eugenios Voulgaris’s translation of Vergil’s Aeneid, are unique examples of translations composed in dactylic hexameter verse and Homeric dialect, and as such, they share several similarities.The thesis has a two-fold aim. Firstly, it aims to showcase Ioannou’s translation techniques from a stylistic, lexical, and metrical perspective, as well as to provide an analysis and commentary on his translation choices. These techniques include the addition or omission of words, monolectic or polylectic renderings of phrases or words, paraphrasing of verbs, infinitives, and participles, changes in the grammatical number of nouns, alterations in syntax, and translations of adjectives with different degrees of comparison. Secondly, through an examination of these translation practices, the thesis seeks to emphasize Ioannou’s extensive knowledge of Ancient Greek and Latin, as well as to underscore the value and significance of his translation work, which is not merely another translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, but a work of literary merit in its own right.The thesis is structured as follows: it begins with a prologue and an introductory note, followed by the first chapter of the first part titled “1.1 Verbum pro verbo or literal translation: problems and speculations”. This chapter briefly introduces key questions and reflects on the purpose of translation, in relation to existing theories in the field of “translation studies”. Specifically, it addresses the debate between word-for-word or sense-for-sense translation and examines the theoretical framework of translation in ancient Rome and Greece, as well as its relevance to modern theory. The chapter then emphasizes the role of texts and translators, along with the purposes served by translation techniques. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a theoretical framework for Ioannou’s translation and to strengthen the argument that his work is not just another translation, but a new literary text that, despite containing several elements of the Ovidian epic poem, can be considered an autonomous literary work.The next chapter, titled “1.2 The translations of classical Latin works in the post-Byzantine and neo-Hellenic Latinitas: the example of Ovid’s Metamorphoses”, takes a retrospective look at the translations of Latin works by Greek scholars from the Palaeologan Renaissance (1261-1453) to the era of the Ottoman Empire and up to the modern independent Greek state and the modern era, with a focus on the Ovidian epic poem. This review examines the causes, motivations, and purposes of each translation, as well as the prevailing social, political, and intellectual conditions of each period. This is followed by the third chapter, “1.3 The translation in verse of Ovid’s Metamorphoses by Philippos Ioannou”, which analyzes the biography and translation work of the Greek scholar, as included in his book Philologika parerga, along with his motivations for translation and some considerations related to the theory outlined in chapter 1.1.The second part of the thesis is devoted to presenting Ioannou’s translation techniques, which are categorized and analyzed in detail, with a particular emphasis on his use of “paraphrases”. Each category, including the rendering of verbs and verb forms (B1), nouns, adjectives, and adverbs (B2), prepositional modifiers (B3), and subordinate clauses (B4), is subdivided into individual chapters, with content analysis presented at the beginning of each sub-section and chapter. Alongside these techniques, Ioannou’s vocabulary is also examined, including his use of common or rare Homeric words, ecclesiastical vocabulary, and neologisms, with references to specific excerpts. Throughout the analysis, Ioannou’s use of different MS readings is also discussed, with reference to editions by V. Loers, Burman, Hauptius, and Heinsius. The thesis concludes with a summary of findings and a bibliography, followed by an “Appendix” containing a comprehensive set of examples.
