The Iliad covers a few weeks in the tenth year of the Trojan War. It opens with the quarrel between the Greek king Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles over a captive woman, Briseis, which leads Achilles to withdraw from the fighting. The Greeks suffer until his friend Patroclus enters the battle in his armor and is killed by the Trojan prince Hector. Achilles, in grief, returns and kills Hector. The poem ends with King Priam begging for his son's body. Homer's hexameter verse sets human rage and mercy among quarrelling gods.
For readers who want the foundation of Western epic and enjoy battles, speeches, and characters with real flaws. It is a long poem, but its final scenes are very moving.
Deep and thought-provoking; a demanding read.
Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1990
- Publisher
- Einaudi
- ISBN
- 9788806118488
- Language
- IT
