The Iliad

by Homer

Homer makes us Hearers,” Pope has said, “and Virgil leaves us Readers.”

“Iliad” is a word that means “a poem about Ilium” (i.e., Troy), and Homer's great epic poem has been known as “The Iliad” ever since the Greek historian Herodotus so referred to it in the fifth century b.c.

the rage of Achilles — its cause, its course and its disastrous consequences — is the theme of the poem, the mainspring of the plot.

Three thousand years have not changed the human condition in this respect; we are still lovers and victims of the will to violence, and so long as we are, Homer will be read as its truest interpreter.

Chapter 1 - Achilles, commander of the Myrmidons (not sure if he’s a king), and Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and commander of the Greek army, are at odds. After a successful sacking by the Greeks they take women as spoils of war. Notably Chryseis who is given to Agamemnon, and Briseis who is given to Achilles. Chryseis’ father offers Agamemnon a ransom for his daughter, Agamemnon refuses and insults him. Chryses (the father) prays to Apollo who hears him and starts killing Greeks. For it to stop Agamemnon must return Chryseis but doesn’t want to and demands something equal in return. Tempers flare, words are said and Agamemnon does return Chryseis, but takes Briseis from Achilles for which Achilles says he’ll no longer fight along side the Greeks for. And Gods are involved in some of this.

Rage — Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses, hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls, great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion, feasts for the dogs and birds, and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end.

What god drove them to fight with such a fury? Apollo the son of Zeus and Leto. Incensed at the king he swept a fatal plague through the army — men were dying and all because Agamemnon spurned Apollo's priest.

“I must — when the two of you hand down commands, Goddess, a man submits though his heart breaks with fury. Better for him by far. If a man obeys the gods they're quick to hear his prayers.”

But Achilles wept, and slipping away from his companions, far apart, sat down on the beach of the heaving gray sea and scanned the endless ocean.

Obey my orders, for fear the gods, however many Olympus holds, are powerless to protect you when I come to throttle you with my irresistible hands.”

Chapter 2 - Zeus sends Agamemnon a dream that he’ll be able to take Troy if he attacks. Agamemnon tells his council this, but then tells all the soldiers there’s no point and they can go home. Reverse psychology? The men go to leave until Athena convinces Odysseus to intervene and make them stay. Odysseus bops a dude who wouldn’t shut up and was insulting Agamemnon. Then everyone clapped. Odysseus and Nestor convince the men to stay, then Agamemnon convinces them to get ready for battle. They amass, minus Achilles and his men, and we’re told of who they are, where they’re from, their leaders, and how many ships they brought. Zeus sends goddess Iris to warn Hector of Troy. The Trojans amass and exit their gates for battle, and we learn where they’re from, and their leaders. Are you ready for a war?

Chapter 3 - The two armies are ready to do battle when Paris, a prince of Troy, son of Priam, and younger brother of Hector, comes prancing out on his horse and asks the Achaeans for a challenger to fight him in single combat. Menalaus steps forward, Paris loses his nerve and retreats. Hector gives him a tongue lashing and Paris agrees to fight Menalaus one on one. Hector floats the idea to the Achaeans who agree if Priam, the king of Troy gives his word. The deal is agreed to, lambs are slaughtered, and both armies watch on. Paris strikes first to no avail. Menalaus strikes back through Paris’ shield and armor narrowly missing him but loses his spear, then strikes with his sword on Paris’ helmet, but the sword breaks. Then Menalaus tries to drag Paris to the Achaean side by his helmet, but Aphrodite breaks the helmet strap and whisks Paris away back to his bed chamber and out of the fight. We also meet Helen for the first time in this book.

Chapter 4 - Zeus goads Hera and Athena and says he’s going to make friends of the Achaeans and Trojans. Hera wants the Trojans to suffer and gets Zeus to allow it, so Zeus sends Athena down to stir up trouble. Athena convinces Pandaros to shoot an arrow at Menelaus whom he hits, but does little damage because Athena changed the arrows course. The Trojans advance and Agamemnon has time to walk around to a bunch of different factions of his armies to see what they’re up to, and if they’re getting ready for battle. Fighting ensues and lots of people die.

Chapter 5 - A lot of fighting, a lot of dying.

Chapter 6 - The gods having left the field, the Grecians prevail. Helenus, the chief augur of Troy, commands Hector to return to the city, in order to appoint a solemn procession of the queen and the Trojan matrons to the temple of Athena, to entreat her to remove Diomed from the fight. The battle relaxing during the absence of Hector, Glaucus and Diomed have an interview between the two armies; where, coming to the knowledge, of the friendship and hospitality passed between their ancestors, they make exchange of their arms. Hector, having performed the orders of Helenus, prevails upon Paris to return to the battle, and, taking a tender leave of his wife Andromache, hastens again to the field. The scene is first in the field of battle, between the rivers Simois and Scamander, and then changes to Troy.

Chapter 7 - The battle is renewed with fury upon the return of Hector. Athena and Apollo meet and agree to put off the general engagement for that day, and incite Hector to challenge the Greeks to a single combat. Nine of the princes accepting the challenge, the lot is cast and falls upon Ajax. These heroes, after several attacks, are parted by the night. The Trojans call a council, Antenor proposes the return of Helen to the Greeks, to which Paris will not consent, but offers to restore them her riches. Priam sends a herald to make this offer, and to demand a truce for burning the dead, the last of which only is agreed to by Agamemnon When the funerals are performed, the Greeks, on the advice of Nestor, erect a fortification to protect their fleet and camp, flanked with towers, and defended by a ditch and palisades. Poseidon is jealous about this, but is pacified by a promise from Zeus. Both armies pass the night in feasting but Zeus disheartens the Trojans with thunder.

Chapter 8 - Zeus assembles a council of the deities, and threatens them with the pains of Tartarus if they assist either side: Athena asks that she may direct the Greeks by her counsels. The armies join battle: Zeus on Mount Ida weighs in his balances the fates of both, and frightens the Greeks with his thunder and lightnings. Nestor alone continues in the field in great danger: Diomed assists him; whose exploits, and those of Hector, are described. Hera asks Poseidon to help the Greeks, but in vain. The acts of Teucer, who is wounded by Hector, and carried off. Hera and Athena prepare to aid the Greeks, but are restrained by Iris, sent from Zeus. The night puts an end to the battle. Hector continues in the field, (the Greeks being driven to their fortifications before the ships,) and gives orders to keep the watch all night in the camp, to prevent the enemy from re-embarking and escaping by flight. They kindle fires through all the fields, and pass the night under arms.

Chapter 9 - Agamemnon, after the last day’s defeat, proposes to the Greeks to quit the siege, and return to their country. Diomed opposes this, and Nestor seconds him, praising his wisdom and resolution. He orders the guard to be strengthened, and a council summoned to deliberate what measures are to be followed in this emergency. Agamemnon pursues this advice, and Nestor further prevails upon him to send ambassadors to Achilles, in order to move him to a reconciliation. Odysseus and Ajax are made choice of, who are accompanied by old Phœnix. They make, each of them, very moving and pressing speeches, but are rejected with roughness by Achilles, who notwithstanding retains Phœnix in his tent. The ambassadors return unsuccessfully to the camp, and the troops betake themselves to sleep.

Mother tells me, the immortal goddess Thetis with her glistening feet, that two fates bear me on to the day of death. If I hold out here and I lay siege to Troy, my journey home is gone, but my glory never dies. If I voyage back to the fatherland I love, my pride, my glory dies . . . true, but the life that's left me will be long, the stroke of death will not come on me quickly.

Chapter 10 - Upon the refusal of Achilles to return to the army, the distress of Agamemnon is described in the most lively manner. He takes no rest that night, but passes through the camp, awaking the leaders, and contriving all possible methods for the public safety. Menelaus, Nestor, Odysseus, and Diomed are employed in raising the rest of the captains. They call a council of war, and determine to send scouts into the enemies’ camp, to learn their positions, and discover their intentions. Diomed undertakes this hazardous enterprise, and makes choice of Odysseus for his companion. On their way they surprise Dolon, whom Hector had sent to spy on the camp of the Grecians. From him they are informed of the situation of the Trojan and auxiliary forces, and particularly of Rhesus, and the Thracians who were lately arrived. They pass on with success; kill Rhesus, with several of his officers, and seize the famous horses of that prince, with which they return in triumph to the camp.

Chapter 11 - Zeus rains blood (gross), the Achaeans are demoralised, Agamemnon fights back, and Zeus interferes again. Hector leads the fight back, Odysseus and Diomedes rally the troops, Paris gets involved, leading to Odysseus and Diomedes being sidelined. More fighting, the healer Machaon is wounded, and finally Nestor convinces Patroclus to persuade Achilles to rejoin the battle (or failing that, to cosplay as Achilles).

Cowards, I know, would quit the fighting now but the man who wants to make his mark in war must stand his ground and brace for all he's worth — suffer his wounds or wound his man to death.”

Chapter 12 - The Achaean fortifications hold (for now). Hector orders his men to leave their chariots and storm the ramparts. An eagle drops a snake and this is a bad omen, but Hector is undeterred. The line is breached, Hector shatters a gate with a boulder, and the Trojans break through. Achilles continues to chill out and continue literature's longest and most petulant sulk.

Chapter 13 - Zeus steps away, Poseidon steps forward to encourage the Archaens. Hector accidentally kills Poseidon’s grandson Amphimachus. As an act of vengeance, Poseidon imbues Idomeneus with a raging power. Fighting. Hector tries to fight on, but the Trojan losses are demoralising. More omens! Still no Achilles.

Iliam

Greece

less danger, more success

Chapter 14 - Agamemnon wants to sail away, Odysseus scolds him. Hera looks to distract Zeus, and receives a magic bra from Aphrodite. Sleep riles up the Achaeans to attack. Fighting. Achilles gets a mention as still refusing to appear.