Iliad facts for kids
| by Homer | |
Inscription of lines 468–473, Book I. Dated 400–500 AD, from Egypt, on display at the British Museum
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| Original title | Ἰλιάς |
|---|---|
| Translator | George Chapman and others; see English translations of Homer |
| Written | c. 8th century BC |
| Country | Ancient Greece |
| Language | Homeric Greek |
| Subject(s) | Trojan War |
| Genre(s) | Epic poetry |
| Published in English | 1598 |
| Lines | 15,693 |
| Followed by | The Odyssey |
| Metre | Dactylic hexameter |
The Iliad is a famous ancient Greek epic poem. It is attributed to the poet Homer. It is one of the oldest and most important stories in European literature. The poem is divided into 24 chapters, called books. It was written in a specific rhythm called dactylic hexameter.
The story takes place during the Trojan War. This was a legendary conflict where a coalition of Greek states besieged the city of Troy for ten years. The Iliad focuses on events that happen in the final weeks of the war. The main plot is about the anger of Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior. It tells the story of his quarrel with King Agamemnon and the tragic death of the Trojan prince Hector.
Scholars believe the Iliad was composed around the late 8th or early 7th century BC. It was originally part of an oral tradition, meaning it was sung or spoken by performers called rhapsodes at festivals before it was written down. The poem explores important themes like glory, fate, anger, and the effects of war. It also features the Olympian gods, who frequently intervene to help their favorite heroes.
Contents
The Story of the Iliad
The Argument Between Achilles and Agamemnon
The story begins nine years into the war between the Achaeans (Greeks) and the Trojans. Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek army, captures a woman named Chryseis. Her father is a priest of the god Apollo. When Agamemnon refuses to return her, Apollo sends a plague to the Greek camp.
Achilles, the leader of the Myrmidons, calls a meeting to solve the problem. Agamemnon agrees to return Chryseis but demands to take Achilles's prize, a woman named Briseis, to replace her. Achilles feels dishonored by this action. He furiously declares that he and his soldiers will stop fighting. He asks his mother, the sea goddess Thetis, to ask Zeus to let the Trojans win for a while so the Greeks will realize how much they need him.
The Battle Continues
With Achilles out of the battle, the fighting continues. Both sides agree to a duel between Paris (the Trojan prince who took Helen) and Menelaus (Helen's Greek husband) to end the war. Menelaus wins, but the goddess Aphrodite saves Paris before he is killed. The truce is broken, and the armies fight again.
Many heroes perform great deeds. The Greek hero Diomedes fights bravely, even wounding the gods Aphrodite and Ares with the help of Athena. The Trojan hero Hector returns to the city to say goodbye to his wife Andromache and their baby son. It is a sad moment because Hector knows Troy might fall.
The Trojans, led by Hector, push the Greeks back toward their ships. The Greeks build a wall to protect their camp, but the Trojans break through. The situation becomes desperate for the Greek army.
The Loss of Patroclus
Achilles's best friend, Patroclus, sees the Greeks suffering. He begs Achilles to let him fight. Achilles refuses to join the battle himself but allows Patroclus to wear his famous armor. He warns Patroclus only to push the Trojans back from the ships and not to chase them to the city walls.
Patroclus fights bravely and saves the ships from being burned. However, he ignores Achilles's warning and chases the Trojans. In the chaos, the god Apollo intervenes, and Hector kills Patroclus. Hector then takes Achilles's armor as a trophy.
Achilles Returns to Battle
When Achilles hears that Patroclus is dead, he is heartbroken and enraged. His mother Thetis brings him new armor made by the god Hephaestus. Achilles returns to the battlefield, seeking revenge against Hector.
Achilles fights with terrifying power. He pushes the Trojan army back into the city. Only Hector remains outside the walls to face him. Hector tries to fight, but Achilles is too strong. Achilles kills Hector and then disrespects his body by dragging it behind his chariot.
The End of the Poem
The gods are unhappy with how Achilles is treating Hector's body. King Priam of Troy, Hector's father, sneaks into the Greek camp with the help of the god Hermes. He begs Achilles to return his son's body for a proper burial.
Achilles is moved by the old king's grief. He remembers his own father and agrees to return Hector's body. The two enemies share a moment of sadness over their losses. The poem ends with a temporary truce so the Trojans can hold a funeral for Hector.
Major Themes
Gods and Religion
In the Iliad, the gods play a big role. They are like humans with superpowers; they get angry, jealous, and pick sides. Hera and Athena support the Greeks, while Apollo and Aphrodite support the Trojans. Zeus, the king of the gods, tries to manage the conflict. The ancient Greeks believed that events on earth were often caused by the gods.
Fate and Destiny
The concept of Fate (moira) is very important. Even the gods cannot change fate. For example, it is destined that Troy will fall and that Achilles will die young but famous. The characters often know their fate but fight anyway. This shows their courage.
Glory and Fame
The Greek heroes strive for kleos, which means glory or fame. They believe that if they do great deeds in battle, they will be remembered forever. Achilles has a choice: he can go home and live a long, quiet life, or stay at Troy, die young, and gain eternal glory. He chooses glory.
The Anger of Achilles
The first word of the poem in Greek is menis, which means wrath or rage. The story is driven by Achilles's anger. First, he is angry at Agamemnon for dishonoring him. Later, his anger turns toward Hector for killing Patroclus. The poem shows how this uncontrolled anger causes suffering for everyone, including Achilles himself.
History of the Poem
The Iliad is set during the Late Bronze Age, around the 12th century BC. However, it was written down much later, likely in the 8th century BC. This period is known as Archaic Greece.
For a long time, people debated whether the Trojan War really happened. In the 19th century, an archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann discovered ruins in modern-day Turkey that many believe to be the city of Troy. While the specific events in the poem are legendary, they may be based on real conflicts.
Oral Tradition
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Before the Iliad was written down, it was an oral poem. Poets known as rhapsodes would memorize and perform the story. They used special techniques, like repeated phrases (e.g., "swift-footed Achilles" or "rosy-fingered Dawn"), to help them remember the thousands of lines. This is why the poem has a musical rhythm.
Ancient Warfare
The poem gives us details about how ancient Greeks fought. The heroes often rode into battle on chariots but stepped off to fight on foot. They used spears, swords, and large shields.
The soldiers wore bronze armor, including helmets with horsehair plumes, breastplates, and greaves (shin guards). Although the poem describes organized formations, much of the focus is on individual duels between champions.
Legacy and Influence
The Iliad has influenced Western culture for thousands of years. It was a key part of education in ancient Greece and Rome. Many later writers, artists, and filmmakers have been inspired by the story.
English Translations
Because the original poem is in Ancient Greek, people who speak English read translations. Some famous translators include:
- Alexander Pope: Wrote a famous poetic version in the 1700s.
- Richmond Lattimore: Wrote a version in 1951 that is very close to the original Greek meaning.
- Robert Fagles: Wrote a popular modern version in 1990.
- Emily Wilson: Published a new translation in 2023.
Manuscripts
There are many old copies of the Iliad. The oldest complete manuscript is called Venetus A, which dates from the 10th century AD. Archaeologists have also found fragments of the poem on papyrus scrolls in Egypt.
See also
In Spanish: Ilíada para niños
