Ancient Greek - Invoking Poseidon

[ffutures]

I'm writing some fanfic in which a character wants to end a storm that has been magically created by someone else invoking Poseidon. My character has a present-day classical scholar's working knowledge of ancient Greek, but isn't necessarily 100% accurate, and is making things up more or less as he goes along. Unfortunately my last exposure to

Comments

[lysimache]

That's not Ancient Greek. It's Modern Greek. Can't comment on its reliability.

[ffutures]

Ok, then I might as well ignore Google. Thanks!

[pauamma]

In addition to that, Ancient Greek isn't a single language.

[elise_rasha]

I don't speak Greek, either, so I can't speak to its reliability, either. I do have some concerns.

1 - I would like to ask this: why does the invocation need to be written in Greek? As one fellow writer to another, I don't see how writing the entire invocation in Greek could enrich your story. All it's going to do is have people scratching their heads on what it means. If you want it to sound like it's being spoken in Greek, write it in italics, make the scholar sound rusty in his pronunciations. You'll have a better story for it in the end.

2 - How is this a fanfic piece? People write original material based on myths on all the time. (If this was a Percy Jackson story, I'd be inclined to agree with you that it's fanfic, but that's not what I'm getting.)

Feel free to send me a private message. I'm working on getting myself published, and I'd like to help in anyway that I can. I just can't help with translating and linguistics.

[ffutures]

For point 1, it seemed like a good idea yesterday, but I have to admit it really doesn't add much - you're quite right, English will work with a couple of bits to show that the character is trying to think of a suitable Greek word.

For point 2, it's fanfic for a TV show that has magic of various sorts, some by invoking ancient gods - and thinking about this, on the show they usually use English for these spells because they know their audience won't want to see Greek etc. subtitles!

So putting these points together, I'll go with English instead.

[elise_rasha]

Okay. I'm glad I've been able to help. :)

[whswhs]

Have you looked at the Homeric Hymns for a sample of how ancient Greeks actually addressed their gods? There are English translations available, which will give you a feel for the meaning and, more importantly, for the protocol of how you address a god. My knowledge stops at

Sing of wrath, Goddess!

and

Sing to me, Muse, of the man

and

Deathless Aphrodite of the many-colored throne,
Daughter of God. . . .

(The first two are from Homer, the third from Sappho.)

[ffutures]

I'll google that - many thanks - but probably go with English text rather than Greek.

[sharplet_ed]

Since I am a native Greek speaker I can give a more accurate translation, if you decide to go with Greek:

Poseidon, god of the sea, I pray to thee to aid me in ending this spell.
Ποσειδώνα, γιε της θάλασσας, προσεύχομαι σε σένα για να σταματήσεις αυτό το ξόρκι

Almighty you are, yes indeed, with powers of the ocean at your command, you are the master of the sea. I pray the grace of your help to end this storm, and offer this gift of a horse, for you are their master.
Παντοδύναμος εισαι εσύ, πραγματικά, με τις δυνάμεις του ωκεανού στις διαταγές σου, είσαι ο αφέντης της θάλασσας. Προσεύχομαι στην ελεημοσύνη της βοήθειας σου για να σταματήσεις αυτήν την καταιγίδα και σου προσφέρω σαν δώρο αυτό το άλογο, γιατί εσύ είσαι ο αφέντης.

So mote it be!
Έτσι είθε να γίνει!

Long live Poseidon, the god of the sea!
Να ζήσει ο Ποσειδώνας, ο θεός της θάλασσας!

[sharplet_ed]

And if you want my opinion, I would say that this abstract is suitable for you and it depends on you if you would prefer the English or Greek version. Good Luck!