Iliad

Homer (British Museum)

The Iliad is an epic poem widely believed to have been written by Homer, the legendary Greek rhapsode, in the 8th century B.C. The poem details the legendary Trojan War (Ilium being the Latin name of Troy) and the in-fighting of many Ancient Greek mythological heroes. Traditionally, the siege of Troy is believed to have taken place in 1184 B.C.

The Iliad was revered by Greeks and all who followed in the Greek legacy, attempting to emulate it. It received something on the order of Biblical significance by later Greeks, seeking to define the prime values of their culture - honor, and valor. Alexander the Great is said to have slept with a copy of the Iliad under his bed, and claimed to be a descendant of the Greek warrior Achilles.

Along with the Odyssey, which primarily recounts events that took place after the Trojan War, the Iliad is one of the two main ancient Greek epic poems.

Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first fell out with one another. --Iliad, Book I, trans. Samuel Butler

Modern readers seeking an account of the Trojan War may be surprised to find that the most famous episode - the Trojan Horse - does not feature in the Iliad at all. Instead the poem concentrates on the in-fighting between the rival Greek kings Achilles and Agammemnon.

Rubens, Greek gods

Historicity

There is widespread debate over the historicity of the Iliad. Important questions in this debate include:

• Was the Iliad written by one man (the alleged Homer), or by many people over generations?
• Were some portions of the Iliad written before others?
• To what extent are the characters in the Iliad based on historical figures?

At one time it was supposed that the story had little or no historical basis, but the discovery of what appear to be the ruins of Troy by Heinrich Schliemann in 1868 suggests that the recounted events may be least partially factual.

See also

• Atlas
• Greek mythology
• Pisistratus
• Ajax the lesser

External links

• Greek text
• English prose translation by Samuel Butler, 1900
• English verse translation by Ian Johnston, 2000