The Iliad

Composed around the 8th century BCE, The Iliad is the first of Homer’s great epics and a foundational work of Western literature. Set during the final weeks of the Trojan War, the poem focuses on the wrath of Achilles, Greece’s greatest warrior, after a bitter dispute with King Agamemnon. Against the backdrop of brutal battles and divine interventions, Homer explores themes of honor, pride, loyalty, and the human cost of war. Immortal characters such as Hector, Priam, and Odysseus take their place alongside the gods—Zeus, Athena, Apollo—whose rivalries shape the fates of mortals. Revered for its rich language, compelling imagery, and deep moral questions, The Iliad has influenced storytelling, warfare narratives, and heroic archetypes for over 2,700 years.