The siege of Ilium of Troy has been ongoing for nearly a decade. Agamemnon angers Achilles, causing him to refrain from participating in the war. As a result, the Trojans often dominate the following battles, with Hector playing the heroic role. However, at a certain point, something occurs that may change Achilles' mind.

This 1946 Rieu translation, revised and updated in 2003 by Jones and another Rieu, begins with lists of the main characters in groups and 5 maps. At the end, there is a glossary and a list of omitted fathers' names. The introduction can be spoilery, but each chapter of the story comes with a short plot description and smaller side-titles, which can be helpful for finding specific points.

Composed around 700 BC from oral tradition stories, this book only presents part of the 'Greeks go against Trojans to get back one leader's wife' story. It may feel strange to see where it ends before the war is truly over. Achilles doesn't die yet, though he knows he will, and Ilium is not yet conquered.

During the story, one might change their mind about which side deserves more favor. The gods act both human-like and according to their own logic, and the humans may or may not realize they are being influenced. The battles have variety, and there are graphic and dark descriptions of death. Sacrifices to the gods are made often, but they don't always work.

Pasts are recalled, there are flash-forwards, and the POV switches from "he" to "you". The storyteller also comments on the actions and beliefs of the characters. I was surprised to see Athos mentioned in chapter 14 and had to check about lions in Greece.

Although the story is somewhat simple, it's far from boring. It shows the various moods during battles, the nature of death, and how quickly the dominance can change. The story may end before the war is over, but what happens here has consequences for both Achilles and Ilium. It's easy to see why this is a classic. Now, it's time to read the Odyssey.

I don't know precisely why I decided to read this. It isn't on The List (I assume perhaps because it's technically a poem rather than a novel), and it wasn't assigned reading or anything of that sort. But for some reason or another, reading The Iliad has been on my mental to-do list for quite a while now. And last week, I finally picked it up.

My initial reaction was rather intense. Dude, this epic is truly epic. (Yes, thank you, I'll be here all week.) It's filled with detailed accounts of dudes getting killed, dudes discussing whether to kill or not kill other dudes, dudes mourning the deaths of their comrades in a way that's supposedly not homoerotic, and dudes yelling at each other about the chicks who seemingly ruin everything. The battle sequences are long and action-packed. Everybody seems to be Zeus's kid or nephew. The men are macho and the women are more like decoration. In essence, it's really quite awesome, as I'm trying to convey.

My second major reaction was one of surprise at how limited the scope of this poem actually is. At the beginning, the Trojan War has already been raging for ten years, yet the poem really only covers the last month or so. It's truly fascinating because the poem appears to be about how the foolish actions of a few powerful individuals can have far-reaching and disastrous consequences. The entire driving force in The Iliad is this: Menelaus takes Achilles's favorite woman, Briseis (who, thanks to Movies in Fifteen Minutes, will always be known as Temple Babe in my mind), for himself. As a result, Achilles throws a huge tantrum and refuses to fight in the Trojan War until the king stops his actions towards Achilles's girlfriend and allows Achilles to resume his relationship with her. Because of this, countless people die, and the gods are of no help whatsoever since they're all on different sides and keep making matters worse.

That's the entire story in a nutshell: a group of guys who are fighting a war because one guy steals another guy's girlfriend all end up dying horrible deaths because some other guys are having a quarrel over someone's girlfriend. The lesson, of course, is that women allegedly ruin everything.

Ordinarily, this would be enough to make me don my Feminist Rage Hat. However, the fact that the goddesses in this story are so incredibly badass that I can't even get that angry about how unremarkable Helen and Briseis are. (Even Andromache isn't too bad because she has some really beautiful scenes with Hector.)

All in all, it's a really awesome, fast-paced action story with enough gore and bromance to keep everyone entertained. I'm glad I took the time to read it.

(Also, if anyone is curious, I read the Richard Lattimore translation and found it to be very readable and well-executed.)

The Iliad is an ancient epic that offers a captivating and complex reading experience.

Despite its many bizarre and horrifying aspects to the modern reader, it can be appreciated within its historical, cultural, and literary context.

A study guide or lecture series, like Elizabeth Vandiver's, can enhance the understanding and enjoyment of the text.

The plot, while seemingly simple on the surface, delves into themes such as war, bloodlust, misogyny, and the concept of glory.

The misogyny present in the story is infuriating, but it's important to approach ancient texts with an understanding of the context in which they were written.

The descriptions of gore and violence can be difficult to read, but they add to the vividness of the battles.

The gods in The Iliad are both grotesque and comic, adding an element of fun to the story.

The concept of Kleos, or glory, is a central theme that has striking similarities to the modern world.

The characters in The Iliad are complex and multifaceted, with some being likable and others despicable.

Hector, the hero of the Trojans, is a particularly relatable and responsible character.

When it comes to translations, there are several options available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

The Robert Fitzgerald Translation is a favorite for its readability and beauty, while the Richmond Lattimore Translation is more literary and has a rich vocabulary.

The E. V. Rieu Translation is in prose and is the most humorous, while the Robert Fagles Translation is fairly readable but doesn't stand out as much.

Whichever translation you choose, it's important to read the introduction to gain a better understanding of the text.

In conclusion, The Iliad is a worthwhile read that offers a wealth of insights into ancient Greek culture and human nature.

Listening to the Iliad, I had a profound realization about how much I vacillate.

If I had lived during that era, would I have sided with the Greeks or the Trojans? I can envision both viewpoints clearly. On one hand, it's evident that Helen was abducted. However, Menalaeus seemed to view her more as a prize rather than a wife, and perhaps she wasn't his only one.

Greece was notorious for invading and conquering the territories around them, and this situation simply provided them with an excuse. On the other hand, Troy defended themselves valiantly. Their army might not have been as large as that of Greece, but they had a powerful wall that couldn't be breached without trickery.

This debate then prompts me to ponder who the mightiest warrior was. Obviously, the choices narrow down to Achilles and Hector. What made Achilles so powerful was his mother's intervention, his staff from Chiron, and his five-layered god-blessed armor. Hector, on the other hand, was mighty because he was a truly determined hero.

I also see a parallel between Greece's ancient domination and Russia's dominance in Eastern Europe during WWII. It was a continuous process of taking territory and imposing a new way of life on the people, destroying anything that stood in the way or defied control.

Nevertheless, there are still valuable lessons to be learned from the Iliad. Lessons of honor, trust, loyalty, respect, and determination.

For an alternative perspective, one can check out The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller or Helen by Margaret George.

12/15/18 audiobook #252 reread.

Recuerdo cuando leí la primera vez la Ilíada.

Era un libro de apenas cientos de hojas, pero resultaba muy entretenido y lo leí en un par de días.

Más tarde, supe que el libro en realidad era mucho más extenso. Fue la primera vez que compré una obra literaria con mi propio dinero. Recuerdo que me costó muy caro, ya que era un colegial. Pero cuando lo tuve en mis manos, supe que valió la pena.

Me introdujo directamente en el mundo de la mitología griega. Aunque el relato era extenso, no me resultó aburrido en absoluto. Claramente, me encantan los asuntos militares y no me aburrí en ningún momento. Todo ello estaba aderezado con los mitos que se cuentan y que son una fuente muy importante en la mitología griega, debido a la gran cantidad de información que proporcionan.

Es increíble la cantidad de personajes, tanto principales como secundarios, que Homero puede manejar en sus relatos. Y así, la Iliada es un conjunto de guerras, amores, desamores, traiciones, cobardías, pasiones, ambiciones. Todo ello se desarrolla en una pugna de dioses y hombres, no sólo en el sentido literal de la guerra, sino también en el de la humanidad y la gloria.

A Heroic And Human Tragedy

The Iliad is a captivating story filled with passion.

It encompasses a wide range of elements such as war and death, honor and pettiness, mortality, domesticity, gods and men.

Bernard Knox, in his excellent introduction to Robert Fagles' edition and translation, writes that the Iliad was likely written down between 725 and 675 B.C.

It tells a story set around 1200 B.C., which was already archaic for its time.

The story of the Iliad covers just a few days in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War and is allusive to the entire mythology of that ancient struggle.

The tale is deliberately mythical, with characters and emotions that Homer tells us are larger than those of men today.

For many, the Iliad is seen as a "classic" and is read, or portions of it are read, in high school or college, often missing much of its grandeur and wisdom.

When I recently returned to the Iliad in Fagles' translation (after not having read it in many years), I was completely swept away.

I accompanied my reading with an excellent series of lecture tapes on the poem and its background.

I found that the translation, written in modern colloquial free verse, helped me understand and read the poem.

It gives the reader a sense of the repetitions, formulas, and phraseology of the original.

The translation has a sweep to it, and the style and translation do not hinder the understanding of the work.

This is crucial in a modern translation of an ancient work.

The translation was easy to follow and got me deeply involved in the tale.

The Iliad likely works differently in ancient Greek than in this translation, but this is largely irrelevant to the virtue of Fagles' work, which makes the Iliad come alive and roar, encouraging the non-classicist modern reader to approach it.

There are numerous themes in the Iliad.

At the beginning, Homer invokes his muse and announces that the work will deal with the "rage of Achilles."

The work is about human anger and rage on a grand scale, as well as the waste and strange grandeur of war.

Bernard Knox, in his introduction, quotes approvingly from Simone Weil, who described the Iliad as the West's leading work on the use and nature of Force.

The Iliad speaks deeply about the human condition, the tragedy and heroism made possible by human mortality, and how people can learn to change and understand others.

I found Bernard Knox' introduction and notes helpful in understanding the controversies surrounding the writing of the Iliad and in providing the reader with some basic tools to think about the work.

Whether the reader is approaching the Iliad for the first time or after many times, there is much to be gained from reading this fundamental text of the West.

Fagles' translation will assist the reader in accessing the Iliad.

Robin Friedman

I truly wish that I could engage in some really crazy and messed up stuff, and then simply say, "Oh, sorry, actually the gods made me do that."

In fact, I have a genuine desire to pick up other translations. I'm specifically looking at you, Caroline Alexander. I long to experience it all over again, but in a different way!

There is such an abundance of emotion within this work. I am extremely interested in how different translators handle it. Each translator may bring their own unique perspective and interpretation, which could potentially offer a whole new understanding and appreciation of the text.

(I'm not going to rate this because, well, it just feels kind of strange to rate it. But of course, I loved it.)

This book, unfortunately, despite its harmony, became boring before I even reached the second half. I initially thought I would stop reading when I reached three percent, but I convinced myself to continue until twenty percent. However, when I hadn't even reached ten percent, my patience ran out, and I went to read the chapter summaries. But even there, I couldn't make it through the second one.

The beginning of the book is like this: it's as if you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a classroom of three-year-old children, with their heads on toys, arguing with each other. But in fact, these children are the rulers of the land and the commanders of the army, and they are fighting for women! Let's move on.
Perhaps this question has come up for many of us: how did people in ancient times, without the Internet and other entertainment, not lose their motivation? And you can find the answer to this question in Iliad! For ten years, Agamemnon gathered all of Greece and besieged Troy! For ten years, they sat behind the walls of Priam and didn't return home! Did people praise them because of their society or laugh at them because of their extreme idleness?

My very best experience with the Iliad has truly been one of my most remarkable audio book experiences. I cannot recommend this version highly enough. It is translated by the esteemed Robert Fagles and narrated by the talented Derek Jacobi.

The Iliad has a rich history. Originally, it was recited and performed orally for an audience, not read individually. Homer, whether a single man or a group, is credited with writing it down, yet it continued to be recited. I firmly believe that this is still the most enjoyable way to experience it.

This set, translated by Robert Fagles, consists of an abridged Iliad on six audio cassettes, which amounts to nine hours of captivating listening. Accompanying it is a nine-page booklet. The text is expertly read by Derek Jacobi, whose narration brings the story to life.

About the author, the translator ROBERT FAGLE is the chairman of the Department of Comparative Literature at Princeton University. His expertise and literary prowess are evident in this translation of the Iliad.

  
    Book Review
  



I give 3+ out of 5 stars to The Iliad, a remarkable Greek lyrical work penned around 800 BC by the renowned Homer. Ah, the famous Trojan War. We're all familiar with the story of the Trojan horse, but do we truly understand how it all came to be? Who were the combatants? And what was the reason behind this epic conflict? To uncover all these mysteries, one must delve into both The Iliad and The Odyssey. Out of the two, I have a slight preference for The Odyssey. Nevertheless, I still found The Iliad to be a captivating story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. However, it's important to note that it can be quite a hefty read to fully digest. It's truly astonishing to think that these works are nearly 3000 years old. The beauty of Homer's words is simply enchanting. When we consider all that we've learned over the years about war and the Trojan horse, both in the context of the virus and the clever trickery, we can see that there are some truly valuable lessons to be gleaned from this work. If only more people would give it a chance!




  
    About Me
  



For those who are new to me or my reviews, here's the lowdown: I am an avid reader, writer, and now blogger. I devour books at an alarming rate, and I love to share my thoughts and opinions about them. First, my book reviews are posted on Goodreads, and then I transfer them over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com. On my blog, you'll not only find book reviews but also TV and film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge, and plenty of blogging about the many places I've visited around the world. You can also find all my social media profiles, where you can get the full scoop on who I am, what I'm up to, when and where I'm doing it, and see my pictures. I encourage you to leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by!

Reading the Iliad was my entry into a world I knew nothing about, and I always thought I had no interest in it. But the decision to delve into this world turned into a long journey. I can't write a review for a book like the Iliad, so first I'll say what I think the value of reading this ancient book is. Then I'll compare all the sources I've read and suggest a smoother path to enter this boundless world.

The value of reading a three-thousand-year-old book that mainly describes war and brutality is as follows:
1. **Allows you to look at the past**: Although the story of the book is not history, it still reflects the beliefs, customs, hopes, and ways of life in the era it belongs to.
2. **Makes you humble**: As 21st-century humans with our technology and modern beliefs, we generally think that we are a highly developed species and imagine that the people of the past are backward and different from us. But when you read the Iliad, you'll see that men three thousand years ago also prayed with women, and people experienced anger, grief, illness, desire, and passion for very similar reasons as we do. Here you'll realize that you're not that different. On the other hand, this means that your beliefs may one day seem as ridiculous as the Greeks' belief in vengeful and lustful gods seems strange to us.
3. **You feel the change**: Pinker, one of our contemporary scholars, believes that violence has generally decreased and the world is a better place to live than in the past. Of course, the news and social media convey the opposite to us. The Iliad tells of a world immersed in long wars, where everything gains meaning through war, even humanity and honor. Something that no longer enters our minds (most of us) when we think about violence. The same goes for the change in thinking about slavery and women's rights, which I don't need to explain. This shows how far humanity has come, and it can be a bright spot in a world that seems very dark.
4. **It's enjoyable**: Apart from the long war scenes and killings that tire your brain, the story is really interesting and has many ups and downs. The relationship between the gods and humans and the dramas between them are really worth reading.
5. **You become aware of the references**: This book is one of the oldest books that has survived for us and has been read by many people. So naturally, there are many references to it in literature and even in non-fiction books. Knowing the story is like opening the lock of these analogies.

How should we read it? I read about eight related books during this period, and here I want to compare the books.

Which is the best translation? This is very subjective, and it depends on which English translation you choose. I chose Emily Wilson because it was the newest and the simplest to read, and it also had an excellent audio performance. But compared to other translations, it was clear that some of them (like the Pope translation) had a more balanced, beautiful, and of course, more difficult-to-read text.

Where should I start? [Greek Myths](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6375527545). The Iliad is full of the names of gods and heroes, and knowing them and finding the relationships between them helps a lot in understanding the story. This beautiful book explains all these in the simplest possible way with excellent illustrations, and it also has a summary of the story of the Iliad.

Where can I read the summaries and analyses of the poems? Among the four analytical books I read, I thought Cliffsnotes was the best. But I'll list the advantages and disadvantages of each book.

[Cliffsnotes](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6367276467):
- Having a list of characters and a map of their relationships.
- Explanations about the history of the book and its poet.
- More complete and separate summaries.
- Longer, more detailed, and separate analyses.
- A section on character analysis.
- Three average articles at the end.

[SparkNotes Literature Guides](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6323732850):
- A more accurate and detailed list of characters.
- Explanations of themes, motifs, and symbols that were not in this form anywhere else.
- Short and useful summaries (usually several poems combined into one).
- Short analyses, sometimes with different points (usually several poems combined into one).

[Bloom's Guide](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6367276467):
- Explanation about the history of the book.
- A long text that combines the summary and analysis and mentions the poem but has no details.
- The shortest summary and analysis.
- Fifteen relatively short analytical articles, some of which are really interesting and examine special aspects of the story.

[Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/162958.Homer_s_The_Iliad):
- A collection of ten long articles, some of which have excellent insights and some are completely meaningless and frustrating.

If I don't want to read all these analyses and want someone to explain the most important ones to me, what should I do? [The Iliad of Homer](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2899693-the-iliad-of-homer). It's a 100% Great Courses version of the Iliad. You can easily enter the classroom with a professor and listen to wonderful analyses.

If I want to know the whole story of the Trojan War, what should I do? [Troy: The Greek Myths Reimagined](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6401267698). The Iliad only tells a short part of the war, not the reason for the start of the war or what happens at the end. To know this, you have to gather the puzzle pieces from other works, which Stephen Fry has done in his book Troy. Fry tells the story from the very beginning, from the birth of the fathers of the heroes of the book, with great attractiveness and finishes it with the end of the war. You can read this book before the Iliad to know the whole story and then go to the Iliad.

What about an illustrated version? [Marvel Illustrated: The Iliad](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6363569875). The Marvel Comics collection is relatively good. The illustrations are average, but they are faithful to the story. You can read it before the book to get familiar with the story. You can also read it along with the book to review and have a better understanding of the characters.

What about an audio version? I listened to the newer Audible version, which is based on the translation of Emily Wilson. I have to say that one of the reasons I enjoyed the book was this. The sentences in my mind were very emotionless and robotic. But when I read the book and listened to it at the same time, the heroic performance of this version greatly improved the quality of my reading.

Pro tip: Join a group of bookworms who know a lot more than you, have the courage to talk, and share without hesitation. Because of them, I started reading this book and learned a lot from them. Thank you to them.

All these sources are in English, and except for the Iliad itself, I don't know if they have been translated or not. If I find better sources in the future, I will definitely add them to this list. By the way, as always, you can download all of them from here: [Maede's Books](https://t.me/maedes_books).

1403/1/21

Magnánima obra de Homero que desarrolla, sobre todo, la Guerra de Troya. This is a truly magnificent work by Homer that delves deeply into the Trojan War. It offers a comprehensive and detailed account of this epic conflict, bringing to life the heroic deeds and tragic events that took place.

Este libro en cuestión está escrito en prosa. The book in question is written in prose, which gives it a different style and feel compared to other forms of literature. The use of prose allows for a more straightforward and detailed narrative, enabling the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story.

Me costó mucho su lectura ya que hay unas descripciones muy minuciosas de todos los detalles que implica a una guerra y se me hizo bastante pesada. Reading this book was quite a challenge for me as there are extremely detailed descriptions of all the aspects involved in a war. These descriptions can be quite overwhelming at times and make the reading experience feel a bit burdensome.

Tal vez el hecho de estar escrito en prosa me impidió disfrutarlo más. Perhaps the fact that it was written in prose prevented me from enjoying it to the fullest extent. Prose can sometimes lack the poetic beauty and rhythm that other forms of writing possess, which might have affected my overall enjoyment of the book.

Eso no significa que sea un libro malo, sino que es una cuestión de sensaciones al término de una lectura. However, that doesn't mean it's a bad book. It's simply a matter of personal preference and the feelings one experiences at the end of a reading. Different people may have different reactions to the same book based on their own tastes and perspectives.

En sí misma, esta obra es de una excelencia abrumadora. In itself, this work is of overwhelming excellence. It is a masterpiece of literature that has stood the test of time and continues to be studied and admired by scholars and readers alike. Its vivid descriptions, complex characters, and engaging plot make it a must-read for anyone interested in ancient history and literature.