The Iliad
Context
The Iliad is believed to have been composed between around 750 BC and 650 BC by Homer, a bard who was thought to be from Smyrna, on the Anatolian coastline, due to the detail of description of the coastline in this area in the epics. However, it is not known exactly where Homer was born, or even whether he composed the epics, but they were attributed to him. Plutarch suggests Salamis, Cyme, Ios, Colophon, Thessaly, Thebes, Chios, Argos and Athens as other possible birthplaces. Although the Iliad is set in the period of the Trojan War, the 12th century BC, it is thought that the Ilaid was composed in the 8th or 7th century BC as the realities supposed are accurate to this time period. The feudal system was similar to that of the time period of the time of composition and the Mycenaean deities were substituted for the similar gods used in the 8th century.
The Greeks viewed the Mycenaean Age (including the Trojan War) as a more glorious age, where gods and demi-gods fought alongside mortals and were deeply involved in all affairs; furthermore, the high-style of language used was an attempt to portray life in the great kingdoms of the 'Achaeans' - the tribe who occupied most of Greece during the Bronze Age.
The Greeks viewed the Mycenaean Age (including the Trojan War) as a more glorious age, where gods and demi-gods fought alongside mortals and were deeply involved in all affairs; furthermore, the high-style of language used was an attempt to portray life in the great kingdoms of the 'Achaeans' - the tribe who occupied most of Greece during the Bronze Age.
Plot Overview
Set during the Trojan War, the Iliad covers the battles and events of the ten-year siege of Troy (or Ilium) during the time of a quarrel between the united Greeks' king, Agamemnon, and their best warrior, Achilles. Their quarrel was over Agamemnon's demands for Achilles to give up his prize, Briseis, following his return of his prize, Chryseis, due to a plague that attacked his men, following her father's prayers to Apollo. This enrages Achilles, who appeals to his mother, the nymph Thetis, to ask Zeus to bring the Greeks to breaking-point, so that Agamemnon can see how important he is.
The Greeks and Trojans met on a plain, where Paris offered to end the war with a duel against Menelaus. Paris was defeated but led away to bed with Helen by Aphrodite. Despite the truce, Zeus encourages a Trojan, Pandaros, to shoot Menelaus with an arrow, injuring him, and thus rousing the Greek army under the command of Agamemnon.
In the resulting battling, Diomedes kills many Trojans, including Pandaros and Aeneas, who is saved by Aphrodite but is wounded in the process. Apollo then intercedes and warns Diomedes against fighting with gods and goddesses. Despite this, many heroes and commanders, including Hector, join the battle and are encouraged by the gods who are supporting different sides. Diomedes wounds Ares. Hector stops a rout of the Trojan troops, and fights an inconclusive duel with Ajax. A day of truce is called to allow both sides to burn their dead, and Zeus prohibits nay other involvement by the gods.
Admitting his error, Agamemnon sends Odysseus, Ajax and Phoenix to offer Briseis and other gifts to Achilles to get him to return to the fighting. However, he refuses and says that he will only return to battle when the Trojans threaten his ships.
The next day Agamemnon, Odysseus and Diomedes are injured in the fighting and Patroclus is moved to pity by a speech from Nestor. Hector led the Trojans through the Greek gate, despite the seer Polydamus' warning about facing Achilles. Meanwhile, Hera seduces Zeus and sends him to sleep which allows Poseidon to aid the Greeks and push the Trojans back to the plain. However, Zeus awakens and sends Apollo to help the Trojans who now threaten the Greek ships.
Patroclus begs Achilles to defend the ships but he refuses, but allows Patroclus to borrow his army and lead the Myrmidons in their defence but tells him not to pursue the Trojans so that he doesn't take away Achilles' 'kleos' (glory). the sudden counter-attack routs the Trojans where they fall back to the wall. Patroclus follows the Trojans there but is stopped by Apollo and later killed by Hector.
Enraged by Patroclus' death, Achilles vows to take vengeance on Hector. He moves to the Greek wall and roars in rage, shocking the Trojans and giving the Greeks a chance to recover Patroclus' body, but not his armour which has been taken away by Hector. Polydamus again warns Hector of Achilles. Thetis asked Hephaestion to make Achilles new armour and also makes a magnificent shield. Achilles is fated to die young if he kills Hector.
Achilles fights the next day and cuts off half the Trojans at the river Skamandros, which he proceeds to fill with the dead. Zeus lifts the ban prohibiting divine intervention and when the river confronts Achilles, Hephaestion beats it back with a firestorm. Meanwhile the Trojans retreat into the city, and Achilles is led away by Apollo, who is disguised as a Trojan. Hector remains outside to fight Achilles, to the upset of his parents, Priam and Hecuba.
However, when Achilles approaches, Hector flees and is chased by Achilles. Eventually, Athena tricks him to fight and he is stabbed in the neck by Achilles, who takes his body away and dishonours it. Led by Hermes, Priam sneaked into the Greek camp. He grasped Achilles by the knees and begged him to return his son's body. Achilles is touched by this show of grief and the two share a meal, lamenting their losses, and Priam carries Hector's body back to Troy, where his buried.
The Greeks and Trojans met on a plain, where Paris offered to end the war with a duel against Menelaus. Paris was defeated but led away to bed with Helen by Aphrodite. Despite the truce, Zeus encourages a Trojan, Pandaros, to shoot Menelaus with an arrow, injuring him, and thus rousing the Greek army under the command of Agamemnon.
In the resulting battling, Diomedes kills many Trojans, including Pandaros and Aeneas, who is saved by Aphrodite but is wounded in the process. Apollo then intercedes and warns Diomedes against fighting with gods and goddesses. Despite this, many heroes and commanders, including Hector, join the battle and are encouraged by the gods who are supporting different sides. Diomedes wounds Ares. Hector stops a rout of the Trojan troops, and fights an inconclusive duel with Ajax. A day of truce is called to allow both sides to burn their dead, and Zeus prohibits nay other involvement by the gods.
Admitting his error, Agamemnon sends Odysseus, Ajax and Phoenix to offer Briseis and other gifts to Achilles to get him to return to the fighting. However, he refuses and says that he will only return to battle when the Trojans threaten his ships.
The next day Agamemnon, Odysseus and Diomedes are injured in the fighting and Patroclus is moved to pity by a speech from Nestor. Hector led the Trojans through the Greek gate, despite the seer Polydamus' warning about facing Achilles. Meanwhile, Hera seduces Zeus and sends him to sleep which allows Poseidon to aid the Greeks and push the Trojans back to the plain. However, Zeus awakens and sends Apollo to help the Trojans who now threaten the Greek ships.
Patroclus begs Achilles to defend the ships but he refuses, but allows Patroclus to borrow his army and lead the Myrmidons in their defence but tells him not to pursue the Trojans so that he doesn't take away Achilles' 'kleos' (glory). the sudden counter-attack routs the Trojans where they fall back to the wall. Patroclus follows the Trojans there but is stopped by Apollo and later killed by Hector.
Enraged by Patroclus' death, Achilles vows to take vengeance on Hector. He moves to the Greek wall and roars in rage, shocking the Trojans and giving the Greeks a chance to recover Patroclus' body, but not his armour which has been taken away by Hector. Polydamus again warns Hector of Achilles. Thetis asked Hephaestion to make Achilles new armour and also makes a magnificent shield. Achilles is fated to die young if he kills Hector.
Achilles fights the next day and cuts off half the Trojans at the river Skamandros, which he proceeds to fill with the dead. Zeus lifts the ban prohibiting divine intervention and when the river confronts Achilles, Hephaestion beats it back with a firestorm. Meanwhile the Trojans retreat into the city, and Achilles is led away by Apollo, who is disguised as a Trojan. Hector remains outside to fight Achilles, to the upset of his parents, Priam and Hecuba.
However, when Achilles approaches, Hector flees and is chased by Achilles. Eventually, Athena tricks him to fight and he is stabbed in the neck by Achilles, who takes his body away and dishonours it. Led by Hermes, Priam sneaked into the Greek camp. He grasped Achilles by the knees and begged him to return his son's body. Achilles is touched by this show of grief and the two share a meal, lamenting their losses, and Priam carries Hector's body back to Troy, where his buried.