The Iliad is an ancient Greek poem, part of the oldest collection of epic poetry in history. It was created by Homer, a blind Ionian bard, and tells the story of the events during the tenth year of the Greek siege of Troy, focusing on Achilles’ wrath. The poem is incredibly bloody and has been translated into dozens of languages, adapted for stage and screen, and inspired countless stories, novels and poems. In Homer’s time, literature was presented orally rather than printed.
Together with the Odyssey, the Iliad is part of the oldest collection of epic poetry in history. The Iliad is an ancient Greek poem which, like the Odyssey, is purported to have been created by a man named Homer. While no one has concrete evidence relating to the authorship of these tales, it is widely accepted that Homer was a blind Ionian bard. The Odyssey and Iliad were created between 800 and 700 BC Rival in age to these poems, Hesiod’s works were created around 700 BC
The Iliad has been translated into dozens of languages, adapted for stage and screen, and has inspired countless stories, novels and poems. However, in Homer’s time literature was not appreciated on the page. Instead of being printed and distributed for the readers’ solitary enjoyment, the stories were presented orally by the author. Homer, Hesiod, and men of their kind were taken to royal courts or noble houses to talk, perhaps as entertainment after a meal.
The Iliad begins with the following words:
Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles son of Peleus,
the destructive rage that sent innumerable pains to the Achaeans…
Clearly, anger is a big part of the poem right from the start. In fact, the word iliad means “anger” or “wrath” in ancient Greek. In keeping with the theme, The Iliad is an incredibly bloody piece of literature. The story that unfolds in Homer’s stanzas is that of the events that took place during the tenth year of the Greek siege of Troy. Also, it has to do with the wrath of Achilles, a major player in Greek mythology. Achilles’ wrath has to do with a slave girl named Briseis, who was given to him as a reward for fighting him. Agamemnon dishonors Achilles by taking Briseis from him, which leads Achilles to withdraw from the war.
In the Iliad, Achilles and his accompanying Myrmidon warriors, the Greeks are defeated by the Trojans. They are badly beaten and almost give up. However, when Achilles’ close friend Patroclus is shot by the Trojan prince Hector, he returns to the battlefield in redoubled rage. Because he is so angry with Hector, Achilles kills him and refuses to return his body to his father. Instead, he holds it for a ransom. Priam, Hector’s father, accepts the ransom and the epic concludes with a burial for the late Trojan prince.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
