The Iliad by Homer is a famous epic poem involving a brutal battle. The lengthy poem continues to educate new readers about Greek mythology.
The Greeks and the Trojans have fought many battles throughout history and when they fight the battle continues for years on end.
This poem involves such a battle, the Greeks have a superior more powerful army but some of the more powerful gods reside on the Trojan side. The battle portrays unnecessary bloodshed and within the battle there are many small character battles.
Read Homer's Iliad, as translated by Alexander Pope, free from PublicLiterature.org. Within the army of the Greeks and the Trojans there are many kings from many different provinces. Especially in the army of the Greeks (also called Acheans) kings from many different cities have been gathered to help fight one cause which is the destruction of the Trojans.
As in all armies there are some warriors who stand above others in talent, skill, and wit. Some of the Greeks who deserve mention are Achilles, Ajax, Diomedes, Menelaus, Nestor the wise, and Odysseus. Some of the brave Trojans are Aeneas, Glaucus, Hector, Pandarus, Paris, Polydamas, and Sarpedon.
These characters contribute to make the battle much more interesting; their personal stories serve to keep the fighting lively. Many of the mentioned above are injured and few are even killed.
The death of brave kings as well as noble warriors brings out much emotion throughout the tale. However, among these few distinguished warriors there is one that may even claim the title of main character.
The warrior Achilles, son of Peleus, is in part to blame for many of his fellow Achaens’ deaths. For the main conflict of the Iliad ensues from this one man’s anger at his king. The reason for this anger is that the king takes from Achilles the one thing he loves most, his Briseis.
For many a day, during the great battle, Achilles does not fight, this is a huge blow to the Acheans. For Achilles has been gifted with much skill because of the fact that his father Peleus was a great warrior in his time. This fact combined with the love of a goddess his mother gives Achilles supreme power.
When he does decide to come out and fight he kills many and any in his path, even angering a river god in the process. The fighting seems unending but simultaneously is entertaining; one side pushing the other to the brim of defeat and then the other countering with the help of one god or another.
The lengthy poem contains battles amongst battles and in the end concludes with no real gain. Many suffer the wrath of the gods and many others the wrath of man.
The Iliad by Homer is a bit longer than one’s regular books, but is immensely entertaining, and filled with seemingly unending fun.
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