Summary
The Iliad by Homer is one of the greatest works of ancient Greek literature and a cornerstone of Western storytelling.
Set during the final weeks of the Trojan War, this epic poem focuses not on the fall of Troy itself, but on the intense conflict between two warriors: the Greek hero Achilles and King Agamemnon.
When Agamemnon dishonors Achilles by seizing his war prize, the proud warrior withdraws from battle—causing devastating consequences for the Greek army.
As the tide of war turns, the Trojans—led by noble prince Hector—gain the upper hand.
But with grief and rage boiling over after a personal loss, Achilles returns to the battlefield in a dramatic and brutal climax that explores themes of honor, wrath, fate, mortality, and the cost of war.
Filled with vivid battle scenes, interventions by the gods, and poignant reflections on life and death, The Iliad is both a heroic saga and a profound meditation on what it means to be human in the face of glory and grief.