Homer's Iliad
**Basic Overview:
•** The Iliad is an epic poem by the ancient Greek poet Homer.
•** It is set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek kingdoms.
•** It focuses on the Greek hero Achilles and his conflict with the Trojan prince Hector.
**Structure and Themes:
•** The Iliad doesn't cover the whole Trojan War; instead, it focuses on a short period of time in the ninth year of the war.
•** Central to the poem are ideas of heroism, fate, honour, and the wrath of the gods.
•** The Iliad is famous for its lengthy descriptions of heroic battles and vivid depictions of brutal warfare.
**Characters:
•** Achilles: The central character and greatest warrior of the Iliad, his anger and its results are central themes of the epic.
•** Hector: The greatest Trojan warrior, he is considered brave, noble, and devoted to his wife and country.
•** Agamemnon: The leader of the Greek forces, his argument with Achilles initiates the conflict that propels the plot of the Iliad.
•** Paris: A Trojan prince, his abduction of Helen sparks off the Trojan War.
•** Helen: The most beautiful woman in the world, her elopement with Paris causes the Trojan War.
•** Zeus, Hera, Athena, Aphrodite and other gods and goddesses: The gods play active roles in the Iliad, taking sides in the Trojan War and directly influencing the outcome.
**Notable Episodes:
•** Achilles’ Withdrawal: Achilles' withdrawal from battle is a key turning point. His absence from the battlefield leads to great losses for the Greeks.
•** Patroclus' Death: The death of Patroclus, Achilles' closest companion, prompts Achilles to return to battle to avenge him.
•** Hector’s Final Battle: The epic climaxes with a dramatic duel between Hector and Achilles.
•** Ransom of Hector’s body: The epic concludes with King Priam successfully pleading for the return of his son Hector’s body for proper burial.