Difference between revisions of "Iliad"
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== See also == | == See also == |
Revision as of 05:34, January 25, 2011
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.[1]
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.
Big jobbies!
See also
External Links
- Greek text
- English prose translation by Samuel Butler, 1900
- English verse translation by Ian Johnston, 2000
References
- ↑ The Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy & Dupuy, 1979
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