The Iliad is an epic poem written by the ancient Greek poet Homer, which tells the story of the Trojan War and the events leading up to it. The poem is set in the city of Troy, which is besieged by the Greek army, led by Agamemnon, in an attempt to reclaim Helen, the wife of Menelaus, who has been abducted by Paris, a prince of Troy.
The central character of the Iliad is Achilles, a Greek warrior who is renowned for his strength and bravery. He is also the son of Thetis, a sea nymph, and has been granted the gift of invincibility by the gods. However, Achilles has a deep-seated resentment towards Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek army, who has offended him by taking his war prize, a girl named Briseis. As a result, Achilles refuses to fight and withdraws from the battle, causing the Greek army to suffer numerous defeats at the hands of the Trojans.
Despite his absence, Achilles remains a central figure in the Iliad, as the other characters often speak of him and his heroic deeds. One such character is Patroclus, a close friend of Achilles who decides to fight in his place, hoping to win back the favor of the gods and reverse the fortunes of the Greek army. However, Patroclus is eventually killed by Hector, the prince of Troy and the leader of its army, leading to a deep sense of grief and anger in Achilles.
Achilles' rage and desire for revenge are ultimately what drive the final events of the Iliad. After learning of Patroclus' death, he returns to the battle, determined to kill Hector and avenge his friend. He eventually succeeds in killing Hector, but the victory comes at a great cost, as he is also killed by Paris, who shoots him with an arrow while he is off guard.
The Iliad is a complex and layered tale that explores themes of honor, pride, and the human desire for revenge. It is also a poignant meditation on the nature of mortality, as the characters are all aware that they are living in a world where death is inevitable and the gods often intervene in the affairs of mortals. Ultimately, the Iliad is a powerful and enduring work of literature that has had a profound impact on Western culture and continues to be widely read and studied today.
The Iliad Plot Summary
Apollo reveals he has deceived Achilles. The arrow misses, and the truce between the two armies immediately ends. Chryses, a priest of Apollo from the sacked city, approaches the Achaean camp and asks Agamemnon, the leader of the Achaeans, to release his daughter, who is one of the captives, from slavery. Sailing the Wine Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter. Apollo hears her prayers and sends a plague to the Greek military camp. They ask the god Hermes to steal the body away, but Hera, bent on shaming the Trojans, will not allow it because of her hate of all Trojans resulting from the Judgment of Paris, when Paris favored Aphrodite's beauty over that of Athena and Hera, eventually leading to the conflict with the Achaeans. Achilles refuses again, but gives Patroclus permission to use his armor and lead his troops.
The Iliad by Homer
Lesson Summary The Iliad is an epic poem written by Homer about the last few weeks of a monumental war. Agamemnon spurs the Achaean to fight, by calling into question Odysseus, Diomedes, and Nestor's pride, asking why they were cowering and waiting for help when they should be the ones leading the charge. With Zeus's help, the Trojans push toward the Achaean ships. New Fetter Lane, London: Routledge. Iliad Synopsis and Summary When, after nine years of fighting with the Trojans, the Greeks Achaeans capture two young maidens, the Achaean leader Agamemnon takes them as war prizes. He wanted to achieve another feat and receive fame. With the help of Athena, Achilles kills Hector.
The Iliad: Full Book Summary
Aeneas A Trojan noble and a powerful warrior Aeneas is an important but secondary character in the Iliad. Those that do appear, he argues, are misinterpretations made by translators imposing a modern mentality on the characters. Retrieved 1 June 2012. He also kept everything a mystery. As Ajax cautiously pulled his shield aside, Teucer would peer out quickly, shoot off an arrow, hit someone in the crowd, dropping that soldier right where he stood, ending his life—then he'd duck back, crouching down by Ajax, like a child beside its mother. He frightens the Trojans enough for the Achaeans to retrieve Patroclus's body.
