The Iliad
Homer · 2025 · 430 pages
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some book links are affiliate links; you pay the same price and we may earn a small commission.
About this book
The Iliad is set during the final weeks of the Trojan War, a decade-long conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans. It focuses on the Greek hero Achilles, whose rage (menis) drives the narrative. After Agamemnon, the Greek leader, dishonors Achilles by taking his prize, the captive woman Briseis, Achilles withdraws from battle, causing the Greeks to suffer heavy losses. Achilles’ close friend Patroclus is killed by the Trojan hero Hector while wearing Achilles’ armor, prompting Achilles to return to the fight. In a climactic duel, Achilles kills Hector and desecrates his body, though he later relents and allows Hector’s father, King Priam, to reclaim it for burial. The poem explores themes of heroism, fate, the wrath of the gods, and the tragic cost of war.
Appears in these reading paths
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey: The Best Books to Read, in Order
Related reading guides
Reader reviews
Ratings and notes from readers — tagged with how deep into the subject they were.
Loading reviews…