''Men in Aida'' is a

homophonic translation Homophonic translation renders a text in one language into a near-homophonic text in another language, usually with no attempt to preserve the original meaning of the text. In one homophonic translation, for example, the English "sat on a wall" i ...

of Book One of

Homer Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...

Iliad The ''Iliad'' (; grc, Ἰλιάς, Iliás, ; "a poem about Ilium") is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odysse ...

into a farcical bathhouse scenario, perhaps alluding to the

homoerotic Homoeroticism is sexual attraction between members of the same sex, either male–male or female–female. The concept differs from the concept of homosexuality: it refers specifically to the desire itself, which can be temporary, whereas "homose ...

aspects of ancient Greek culture. It was written by the language poet

David Melnick David Melnick (1938–2022) was a gay avant-garde American poet.Silliman, Ronald. In the American Tree. Orono: National Poetry Foundation, 1986. 602. He was born in Illinois and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of Chi ...

, and is an example of poetic postmodernism. In 2015, all three books of the ''Iliad'' translated by Melnick were published by independent publishing house Uitgeverij under the title ''Men in Aïda''. It opens: :Men in Aida, they appeal, eh? A day, O Achilles. :Allow men in, emery Achaians. All gay ethic, eh? :Paul asked if team mousse suck, as Aida, pro, yaps in. Corresponding to the Greek: :μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος :οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρί᾽ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε᾽ ἔθηκε, :πολλὰς δ᾽ ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄϊδι προΐαψεν Transliterated: :mēnin aeide thea pēlēiadeō Akhilēos :oulomenēn, he muri' Akhaiois alge' ethēke, :pollas d' iphthimous psukhas Aidi proiapsen Literal translation:Homer, trans. A.T. Murray, ''The Iliad'', ''Loeb Classical Library'', 1924
at Perseus
/ref> :The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son, Achilles, :that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, :and sent forth to Hades many valiant souls

References

1983 in LGBT history 1983 poems 1980s LGBT literature Homophonic translation LGBT poetry LGBT literature in the United States Poetry based on the Iliad Modern adaptations of the Iliad {{LGBT-stub