The Iliad

Description

The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer and is one of the oldest works of Western literature. It is a crucial part of the Epic Cycle, a collection of ancient Greek poems that narrate the events of the Trojan War. The poem begins with the wrath of Achilles, which sets the stage for the entire narrative. The Trojan War has been raging for nine years, and the Greeks are besieging the city of Troy. Achilles, the greatest warrior among the Greeks, is upset with King Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek forces, for taking his war prize, Briseis, as compensation for having to return his own captive. As the war progresses, the gods take an active interest in the conflict and often intervene, favoring one side or the other. The turning point of the poem occurs when Patroclus, a close companion of Achilles, is killed by Hector in battle. This tragedy deeply affects Achilles, leading him to rejoin the war to avenge Patroclus' death. The climax of The Iliad comes with the confrontation between Achilles and Hector. Achilles, fueled by grief and rage, kills Hector in single combat and brutally mistreats his body. The poem ends with the funeral of Hector, lamented by the Trojans and the Greeks alike. The Iliad is not just a tale of war; it is a profound exploration of human nature, emotions, and the consequences of actions, making it a timeless and significant piece of world literature.

Part of the Encyclopaedia Britannica’s Great Books of the Western World

This book has 188,297 words, and 466 pages in the PDF version. This translation by Alexander Pope was originally published 1715–1720. This edition with notes and an introduction by Theodore Alois Buckley was first published in 1899.

Production notes: This ebook of The Iliad was published by Global Grey in 2020, and updated on the 26th July 2023. The artwork used for the cover is 'Achilles Defeating Hector' by Rafael Tegeo.