What is it about?

The "Oneirocritica" is a Greek book from the 2nd century AD, which provides detailed interpretations of dreams. These dreams and their interpretations were very specific to the time and language in which the book was written, extensively referencing the Greek gods and cultural practices. This paper looks at a 9th century AD Arabic translation of this text, examining how the translator grapples with the challenge of not just translating these references to mythology, sexuality, and culture, but reinterpreting them to fit their new Islamic context.

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Why is it important?

By examining how these dreams and interpretations were modified to fit their new context, this paper sheds light on the social, cultural, and religious setting of 9th century Baghdad.

Perspectives

I hope that this article is as enjoyable to read as it has been to research and write. Sweet dreams!

Reagan Patrick
University of Toronto

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This page is a summary of: Lost in translation, FORUM Revue internationale d’interprétation et de traduction / International Journal of Interpretation and Translation, April 2024, John Benjamins,
DOI: 10.1075/forum.00035.pat.
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