The Iliad

Homer

• Publisher: CLXBX
• Year: 2026
• Topic: Literature
• eBook ISBN:
  9782658139233
• Subtopic: Ancient Poetry
• Index: Literature

The Iliad by Homer stands as one of the greatest and most influential works of world literature. Composed in ancient Greece more than two millennia ago, this monumental epic poem tells the dramatic story of heroism, rage, honor, and fate during the final year of the legendary Trojan War. Rather than recounting the entire conflict, The Iliad focuses on a crucial and intense period in the war between the Greek forces and the defenders of Troy. At the heart of the narrative is the fierce warrior Achilles, the greatest of the Greek heroes, whose pride and anger set the course for much of the story. When Achilles quarrels with the Greek commander Agamemnon and withdraws from battle, the balance of power shifts dramatically on the battlefield. As the war rages outside the towering walls of Troy, legendary figures emerge on both sides. Hector, the noble prince of Troy, fights courageously to defend his city and family, embodying duty and honor in the face of overwhelming danger. Around them stand a host of warriors, kings, and allies whose fates intertwine amid brutal combat and shifting fortunes. Homer's epic captures not only the spectacle of war but also the deeply human emotions behind it. Themes of pride, loyalty, friendship, grief, and mortality echo throughout the poem. Moments of fierce battle are balanced by scenes of reflection, compassion, and sorrow, reminding readers that even the greatest heroes are subject to the limits of human life. The poem also portrays the influence of the gods, who intervene in mortal affairs, shaping events according to their rivalries and whims. Through these divine interventions, the epic explores the tension between human choice and destiny. Rich in vivid imagery and unforgettable characters, The Iliad has shaped storytelling, poetry, and heroic tradition for centuries. Its exploration of courage, glory, and the cost of conflict continues to resonate with readers around the world. Epic in scale and timeless in its themes, The Iliad remains a cornerstone of classical literature—a powerful tale of war, honor, and the enduring struggle between pride and compassion.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• 1. THE CONTENTION OF ACHILLES AND AGAMEMNON
• 2. THE TRIAL OF THE ARMY AND CATALOGUE OF THE FORCES
• 3. THE DUEL OF MENELAUS AND PARIS
• 4. THE BREACH OF THE TRUCE, AND THE FIRST BATTLE
• 5. THE ACTS OF DIOMED
• 6. THE EPISODES OF GLAUCUS AND DIOMED, AND OF HECTOR AND ANDROMACHE
• 7. THE SINGLE COMBAT OF HECTOR AND AJAX
• 8. THE SECOND BATTLE, AND THE DISTRESS OF THE GREEKS
• 9. THE EMBASSY TO ACHILLES
• 10. THE NIGHT ADVENTURE OF DIOMED AND ULYSSES
• 11. THE THIRD BATTLE, AND THE ACTS OF AGAMEMNON
• 12. THE BATTLE AT THE GRECIAN WALL
• 13. THE FOURTH BATTLE CONTINUED, IN WHICH NEPTUNE ASSISTS THE GREEKS. THE ACTS OF IDOMENEUS
• 14. JUNO DECEIVES JUPITER BY THE GIRDLE OF VENUS
• 15. THE FIFTH BATTLE, AT THE SHIPS; AND THE ACTS OF AJAX
• 16. THE SIXTH BATTLE: THE ACTS AND DEATH OF PATROCLUS
• 17. THE SEVENTH BATTLE, FOR THE BODY OF PATROGLUS. THE ACTS OF MENELAUS
• 18. THE GRIEF OF ACHILLES, AND NEW ARMOUR MADE HIM BY VULCAN
• 19. THE RECONCILIATION OF ACHILLES AND AGAMEMNON
• 20. THE BATTLE OF THE GODS, AND THE ACTS OF ACHILLES
• 21. THE BATTLE IN THE RIVER SCAMANDER
• 22. THE DEATH OF HECTOR
• 23. FUNERAL GAMES IN HONOUR OF PATROCLUS
• 24. THE REDEMPTION OF THE BODY OF HECTOR