"The Iliad" is a monumental work by Homer. The literature of antiquity definitely deserves attention from readers of any era. Among the most important periods in the history of human culture, ancient literature should be especially noted. And among antiquity, the most important author was and remains the poet Homer. When a representative of modern society holds an ancient literary monument in his hands, a paradoxical feeling arises: the people who wrote it are at the same time so distant and at the same time so similar to us. On the one hand, the plot of the "Iliad" revolves around only one global event, but on the other hand is extremely complicated by many plot lines. I want to talk about the "Iliad", I want to admire it! Empathize with the actions of the heroes, be indignant at the damage and insults inflicted on them. Sometimes i wanted to elbow everyone aside and plunge headlong into the thick of things, taking a direct part in them. In the "Iliad" everyone fights: people, gods, forces of nature and even animals. Everything literally breathes war. Even love, admiration of the beautiful - gives rise to hostility. And yet, Heraclitus, who considered war the father of all, criticized Homer for its condemnation.

Took me forever so glad i read tho.

I get it’s 500 AD but it is confusing that goddesses and gods are treated as equals but women and men are not.

It is impressive that many words of sons of fathers who have done this feat and throw their spear can be entertaining, and can even get more entertaining as the war reaches its pointy end. But not much else other than pulpy entertainment was to be had.

For fans of mythology, and the Trojan War, the Iliad is a classic. So full of war stories and tragedy, not too mention so much interference from the gods. Book IX was probably my favorite, Achilles pining over Briseis. I wasn't sure what to expect from this audiobook, but it was very easy to listen to. I'm aware that this translation by Stephen Mitchell may be shorter than other versions as he removed some stories that were thought to have been added later, including the entirety of Book X.

This is silly and entertaining

Not an easy read, but very fulfilling if you give it proper attention. Do not expect to just casually fly through it on the weekend while sipping sangria on the patio (not that I did that all day today, ahem). I took my time, thoughtfully reading one book at a time and looking up summaries and analyses online after each. I made notes, I looked up classical artwork, and I let myself have all the time in the world to finish The Iliad. The ancient epic does tend to drag in some spots, especially when describing battles and military procedures. It indulges in every gory detail about how some hapless chap gets a spear in his neck, or some other fella gets disemboweled. I bet it was a hoot to listen to in some tavern back in the day! To this reader though, it just went on and on. But a large part of the poem is also super fascinating and even entertaining. The petty fights of gods, the machinations, the odd comedic relief, the prophecies, and surprising character-focused moments are all worth it. Some scenes were downright cinematic - straight out of 300! So glad I finally tackles this beast.

Okay, there's a lot of this poem that could be edited out for conciseness. But, the thing I remember loving about the Iliad is the violence! The metaphors and details used in my translation made this the goriest book I've read.

I read this for my Classics course (Epic Heroes and Poems).

I can't believe I've finally read Homer's The Iliad. It incited less emotion from me than I expected. It's a strange feeling when you've heard and read so many different, elaborate versions of a story and then you actually read the original that all the others stemmed from and realize that it was a simple narrative to begin with. I thoroughly loved my experience reading The Iliad and it helped that my English professor is super passionate about it too. Now on to tackling The Odyssey!

24 chants dans l’Iliade !

Omlllllllll I knew that I'd probably enjoy this book but I didn't know that I would love it this much! I didn't know if I'd ever pick up this book and read it on my own time and school was definitely a big motivator in the fact that I did eventually read it all but I don't regret it at all!

This book is a wonder of historical concept and it gives such context of the myths and the gods that the Greeks believed in. It does go on one too many rants of lineage and such. (Achilles is the best)

yes. i am reviewing the iliad. where else am i going to scream cry and yell about the scene of hector taking off his helmet so he doesn't scare his son, making both him and his loving wife andromache chuckle at their son's reaction, then he prays for the betterment of his son and his future when a few pages ago, he refused to pray for himself? yeah. that's what i thought.

Hallelujah. It’s over. Well, at least The Iliad is, though the story continues in The Odyssey. I had forgotten how much the beginning of this epic sounds like a giant group of toddlers fighting over toys. These toddlers just happen to command warships and armies, and the toys happen to be women they view as war prizes. Frankly, it’s disgusting. If these idiotic “heroes” would just view women as actual people who can make their own decisions instead of pretty toys over which to wage war, every single event in this story could have been avoided. Had they just asked Helen who she wanted to be with and respected that decision, hundreds of lives would have been saved. The amount of bloodshed over the “taking” of this woman is just insanely wasteful, even if it’s fictional. “Any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we're doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.” The gods are so incredibly petty. If Monopoly is the board game that ruins families, the gods of Olympus are playing something similar with cities and human lives. Men and women are literal pawns to them, game pieces and very little else. They claim to care about some of these people, but it’s a very shallow kind of care. Seriously, they’re terrible. And as 70% of Greek mythology is directly tied to Zeus’s inability to keep it in his toga and Hera’s rage over that fact, it can’t even be pretended that the gods cared about much outside of their own desires and fury. “Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is that man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another.” Honestly, this is a cast completely comprised of hypocrites. All of these men deeply believe they commit a travesty against another person but is then surprised and horrified if something similar is done to themselves or someone close to them. For instance, if the whole war is occurring due to the theft of a woman (more on that above), then why on earth would you take the “prize” of your greatest warrior because you’re feeling slighted? How did you think that was going to work out for you? And if your heart is set on desecrating the dead body of said warrior’s bestie, who isn’t even fighting in the war because of the aforementioned lady theft, why on earth would you be shocked that he decides to not only finally engage in the war but that he’s out for your blood and intends to disrespect your corpse in the same ways? Seriously, people. What the heck? “Let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter.” These warriors are also insanely self-absorbed. To a man, every single one of them act as if their feelings are the only ones that matter. Their mourning is the only true mourning. Their rage is the only true rage. This is doubly true for the divine beings that populate the story, as stated earlier. I seriously cannot fathom being this level of selfish, and I sincerely pray that I never become this wrapped up in myself. If I do, some one please punch me in the throat and snap me out of it, will you? “Why so much grief for me? No man will hurl me down to Death, against my fate. And fate? No one alive has ever escaped it, neither brave man nor coward, I tell you - it’s born with us the day that we are born.” Unrelated to anything, but I could also go the rest of my life without hearing anyone else referred to as “god-like” or their speech referred to as “winged words.” Those terms were exasperatingly overused. However, there are some truly beautiful lines mixed into the free verse, and those almost made up for the repetition mentioned. I know both of these observations are subject to change based on which translation you choose to read. I bounced between the Caroline Alexander translation and the Robert Fagles translation, both of which were lovely. “No man or woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny.” I respect The Iliad. I know it’s among the earliest literary pieces we have, and that it paved the way for countless stories that followed. But, as with the times I read this epic in the past, whether in part or entirety, I just can’t enjoy something that makes me roll my eyes this hard or groan this often. That opinion is incredibly subjective, and I know many people who disagree. But the abundance of wholly preventable violence, and the lack of anything else to break up said violence, just isn’t at all enjoyable for me. Thankfully, The Odyssey comes after this, and I know that it’s far and above more entertaining. I may not care for the tale of the Trojan War, but Odysseus’s return trip is wild and I’m eager to dive back into it. Another buddy read with TS! You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.

3.5/5 ☆s

Just on the introduction, now. It describes the history of the Iliad from a linguistic etc., point of view among other things.

Read most of it in class.

”Let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter.”

Herbert Jordan's translation really moves. I read it 6 books at a time. This translation is mostly ignored, but it's much better than Fagles or Lattimore.

I highly recommend reading Homer to your 12 year old brother...brilliant fun. Liked this but so much simile!! Preferred the Odyssey.

I realised that this was the fourth time I’ve read the Iliad. I won’t be able to quote lines from this or say I read it oh so closely each time, but it never bores me. I feel like there is something I can take it from each time. I’ll also add that this is the second time I’m reading the Stephen Mitchell translation. He wrote the most beautiful introduction to the book!

I used to think that the term "epic poem" was a reference to a work's length.... how wrong I was. This is truly one of the most epic things I've ever read. It seems funny to me that Greek literature is a niche taste these days. The Iliad has everything that American audiences are cheeping for: lust, betrayal, violence, epic speeches, heroes, anti-heroes, massive battles, and a testy relationship with the deity. It's basically Marvel, except with some thought put into the storytelling. We haven't changed a bit. People were telling each other superhero stories since before Plato. Reading the Iliad makes me wish our current superhero genre storytellers would take a leaf out of Homer's book and make me CARE about the heroes. Of no contemporary superhero could one imagine a god saying, as he does in the Iliad: "My heart for Hector grieves." I happen to think superhero stories are important, and we need good ones. They represent a part of us that remains from a pagan age where the only thing between man and Hades was the Hero, who, if he couldn't save mankind, could at least give it dignity in the shadow of crazy Olympus. We're not pagans anymore, but we owe them a lot, and I wish our superhero stories dignified us like theirs did. Maybe the problem is that we don't have an Olympus to be overshadowed by anymore. Liberated, perforated storytellers we are. My heart for Hector grieves.

read a german summary and the greek version. i needed some time to get used to the mess of names and events but after a while i enjoyed it

5 stars because greek mythology > anything