Hero Image & Title Thumbnail: Greek God, developed on November 25, 2024.
The Iliad: Introduction 1
First revision: Nov.25, 2024
Last change: Dec.20, 2024
Searched, Gathered, Rearranged, Translated, and Compiled by Apirak Kanchanakongkha.
1.
page 1
The Iliad (Greek: Ἰλιάς, Ilias; English: Iliad) is one of two epic poems written by Homer in ancient Greece, which recount the Trojan War during its final tenth year. It is believed to have been composed in the 8th century BC. Many scholars believe it to be the oldest work of Greek literature, and thus the earliest work of European literature. Although it is attributed to only one author, the oral tradition suggests that it was written by more than one person.
The epic poem is set in the tenth and final year of the Greek sack of Iliad, or Troy. The word Iliad means "about Ilian" (Latin: Ilium), the capital city, as distinct from Troy (Türkiye: Truva; Greek: Τροία, Troía; Latin: Troia, Troiae), the city-state surrounding Ilium, but the two terms are often used together to refer to the same place.
2.
3.
The Iliad
1.
2.
First published: ca.700 B.C.
Translation: Samuel Butler (1835-1902)
Homer
1.
2.
page 2
HOMER: The Iliad
| Book 1: |
The Rage of Achilles |
The Beginning of The Iliad. |
| Book 2: |
The Great Gathering of Armies |
|
| Book 3: |
Helen Reviews the Champions |
|
| Book 4: |
The Truce Erupts in War |
|
| Book 5: |
Diomedes Fights the Gods |
|
| Book 6: |
Hector Returns to Troy |
|
| Book 7: |
Ajax Duels with Hector |
|
| Book 8: |
The Tide of Battle Turns |
|
| Book 9: |
The Embassy to Achilles |
|
| Book 10: |
Marauding Through the Night |
|
| Book 11: |
Agamemnon's Day of Glory |
|
| Book 12: |
The Trojans Storm the Rampart |
|
| Book 13: |
Battling for the Ships |
|
| Book 14: |
Hera Outflanks Zeus |
|
| Book 15: |
The Achaean Armies at Bay |
|
| Book 16: |
Patroclus Fights and Dies |
|
| Book 17: |
Menelaus' Finest Hour |
|
| Book 18: |
The Shield of Achilles |
|
| Book 19: |
The Champion Arms for Battle |
|
| Book 20: |
Olympian Gods in Arms |
|
| Book 21: |
Achilles Fights the River |
|
| Book 22: |
The Death of Hector |
|
| Book 23: |
Funeral Games for Patroclus |
|
| Book 24: |
Achilles and Priam |
|
Book 1
1.
2.
Sing, O goddess, is the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, who brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first fell out with one another.
And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It was the son of Jove and Leto, for he was angry with the king and sent a pestilence upon the host to plague the people because the son of Atreus had dishonored Chryses, his priest. Now Chryses had come to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter and had brought with him a great ransom: moreover, he bore in his hand the scepter of Apollo wreathed he bore in his hand the scepter of Apollo wreathed with a suppliant's wreath, and he besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus, who were their chiefs.
"Sons of Atreus," he cried, "and all other Achaeans, may the gods who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam and to reach your homes in safety, but free my daughter and accept a ransom for her, in reverence to Apollo, son of Jove."
Achilles was developed on November 28, 2024.1.
On this, the rest of the Achaeans, with one voice, were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered, but not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. "Old man," said he, "let me not find you tarrying about our ships nor yet coming hereafter. Your scepter of the god and your wreath shall profit you nothing. I will not free her. She shall grow old in my house at Argos, far from her own townhome, busying herself with her loom and visiting my couch, so go and do not provoke me, or it shall be the worse for you."
The old man feared him and obeyed. Not a word he spoke, but went by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed apart to King Apollo whom lovely Leto had borne. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of the silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest Tenedos with thy might, hear me oh thou of Sminthe. If I have ever decked your temple with garlands or burned your thigh-bones in fat of bulls or goats, grant my prayer, and let your arrows avenge these my tears upon the Danaans."
1.
2.
page 2
Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He came down furious from the summits of Olympus, with his bow and his quiver upon his shoulder, and the arrows rattled on his back with the rage that trembled within him. He sat down away from the ships with a face as dark as night, and his silver bow rang death as he shot his arrow in the midst of them. First, he smote their mules and their hounds, but presently he aimed his shafts at the people themselves, and all day long, the pyres of the dead were burning.
For nine whole days, he shot his arrows among the people, but upon the tenth day, Achilles called them in assembly - moved thereto by Juno, who saw the Achaeans in their death throes and had compassion upon them. Then, when they were got together, he rose and spoke among them.
"Son of Atreus," said he, "I deem that we should now turn roving home if we would escape destruction, for we are being cut down by war and pestilence at once. Let us ask some priest or prophet, or some reader of dreams (for dreams, too, are of Jove) who can tell us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry and say whether it is for some vow that we have broken, or hecatomb that we have not offered and whether he will accept the savor of lambs and goats without blemish, to take away the plague from us."
With these words, he sat down, and Calchas, son of Thestor, wisest of augurs, who knew things past, present, and to come, rose to speak. He had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to Ilius through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had inspired him. With all sincerity and goodwill, he addressed them thus:
---------------
"Achilles loved of heaven; you bid me tell you about the anger of King Apollo; I will therefore do so, but consider first and swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed, for I know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might, to whom all the Achaeans are in subjection. A plain man cannot stand against the anger of a king, who, if he swallows his displeasure now, will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked it. Consider, therefore, whether or not you will protect me."
And Achilles answered, "Fear not, but speak as it is borne in upon you from heaven, for by Apollo, Calchas, to whom you pray, and whose oracles you reveal to us, not a Danaan at our ships shall lay his hand upon you, while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth - no, not though you name Agamemnon himself, who is by far the foremost of the Achaeans."
Reference:
01. from. THE ILIAD, HOMER, PENGUIN CLASSICS, DELUXE EDITION, Translated by Robert Fagles, Introduction and notes by Bernard Knox, Winner of an Academy of American Poets Landon Translation Award, 51st printing, 1998, ISBN: 0-670-83510-2, Printed in the United States of America.
1.
2.
3.
