The Iliad (eBook)

Homer, the semi-legendary author of the ancient Greek epic poems, is among the most famous and earliest of the canonical Western poets. Though the historical Homer's existence remains a subject of scholarly debate, he is conventionally said to have been blind and to have lived around the 8th century BCE. His authorship of the two foundational texts of Greek literature and, by extension, Western literature—the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey'—is traditional rather than definitively proven. The 'Iliad', cited here, is an epic poem set during the Trojan War, focusing on the wrath of the Greek hero Achilles. It is renowned for its complex characterization, rich narrative technique, and exploration of themes such as honor, wrath, fate, and the will of the gods. Homer's epic has been a profound influence on the literature of the Western world, shaping genres and literary style for centuries. Scholars such as Milman Parry have even suggested that Homer's works were composed orally, representing a blend of the bard's individual artistry and the collective cultural memory of the Greek people. Homer's mastery of imagery, meter (dactylic hexameter), similes, and his ability to convey the breadth of human experience, have set a paradigm for epic poetry that endures to this day.