The Iliad Simplified- Full Text Rewritten In Modern, Easy to Understand English

by Homer

Relax and read a simplified version of the Homer classic, The Iliad, originally published sometime between the late 8th or early 7th century BCE. Enjoy the full work in modern, easy-to-understand language, while preserving the original tone and style!

The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, believed to have been composed around the 8th century BCE. It is set during the Trojan War, a legendary conflict between the Greeks (Achaeans) and the Trojans, and focuses on a brief period of the war's final year. The poem explores themes of honor, fate, the wrath of gods, and the consequences of human actions in the face of war. Though it contains numerous characters, the central figure is Achilles, the greatest of the Greek warriors, whose internal struggles and relationships drive much of the story.

The Iliad is considered one of the foundational works of Western literature and played a crucial role in shaping the culture of ancient Greece. It reflects the values and beliefs of the time, including the heroic code, where warriors seek glory and honor on the battlefield, and the gods actively intervene in human affairs. The poem is notable for its exploration of the human experience in war—its triumphs, its tragedies, and the emotional toll it takes on individuals and communities.

Homer’s Iliad has been immensely influential, inspiring countless adaptations, retellings, and scholarly interpretations, and remains a vital part of the classical canon.

383 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2024

About the author

Homer (Greek: Όμηρος born c. 8th century BC) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered and influential authors in history.
Homer's Iliad centers on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles during the last year of the Trojan War. The Odyssey chronicles the ten-year journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, back to his home after the fall of Troy. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. Despite being predominantly known for its tragic and serious themes, the Homeric poems also contain instances of comedy and laughter.
Homer's epic poems shaped aspects of ancient Greek culture and education, fostering ideals of heroism, glory, and honor. To Plato, Homer was simply the one who "has taught Greece" (τὴν Ἑλλάδα πεπαίδευκεν). In Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to Homer as "Poet sovereign", king of all poets; in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the "greatest of poets". From antiquity to the present day, Homeric epics have inspired many famous works of literature, music, art, and film.
The question of by whom, when, where and under what circumstances the Iliad and Odyssey were composed continues to be debated. Scholars remain divided as to whether the two works are the product of a single author. It is thought that the poems were composed at some point around the late eighth or early seventh century BC. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity; the most widespread account was that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider these accounts legendary.

French: Homère, Italian: Omero, Portuguese, Spanish: Homero.