Iliad

Oct 13, 2022

CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. MOST OF THE LINKS ARE BROKEN.

This is a page containing all of my resources and posts on the Iliad in one convenient place. The “Resources” are from my website (www.wendsfochange.com).

Book

Revenge and its Discontents: My Journey through the Iliad

Electronic and paperback versions available!

Resources

A cast of characters with brief descriptions

A list of myths and legends mentioned in the Iliad

Some fun facts about the Iliad

A list of difficult words (with definitions) found in the Samuel Butler translation

Posts

Achilles and Agamemnon Feud

Andronikos

June 7, 2022

ILIAD, BOOK 1

Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first fell out with one another.

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Zeus' Deception

Andronikos

July 8, 2022

ILIAD, BOOK 2

Thus [Agamemnon] prayed, but the son of Saturn would not fulfill his prayer. He accepted the sacrifice, yet none the less increased their toil continually.

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The Truce

Andronikos

July 13, 2022

ILIAD, BOOK 3

“Sir,” answered Helen, “father of my husband, dear and reverend in my eyes, would that I had chosen death rather than to have come here with your son, far from my bridal chamber, my friends, my darling daughter, and all the companions of my girlhood. But it was not to be, and my lot is one of tears and sorrow.”

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War Breaks Out

Andronikos

July 15, 2022

ILIAD, BOOK 4

And now no man would have made light of the fighting if he could have gone about among it scatheless and unwounded, with Minerva leading him by the hand, and protecting him from the storm of spears and arrows. For many Trojans and Achaeans on that day lay stretched side by side downwards upon the earth.

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Diomedes and Hector Ravage The Battlefield

Andronikos

July 17, 2022

Diomedes and Hector Ravage The Battlefield

ILIAD, BOOK 5

“Fear not, Diomed, to do battle with the Trojans, for I have set in your heart the spirit of your knightly father Tydeus. Moreover, I have withdrawn the veil from your eyes, that you know gods and men apart. If, then, any other god comes here and offers you battle, do not fight him; but should Jove’s daughter Venus come, strike her with your spear and wound her.”

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Hector's Resolve

Andronikos

July 18, 2022

ILIAD, BOOK 6

“Wife, I too have thought upon all this, but with what face should I look upon the Trojans, men or women, if I shirked battle like a coward? I cannot do so: I know nothing save to fight bravely in the forefront of the Trojan host and win renown alike for my father and myself. Well do I know that the day will surely come when mighty Ilius shall be destroyed with Priam and Priam’s people… for none of these do I grieve as for yourself when the day shall come on which some one of the Achaeans shall rob you for ever of your freedom, and bear you weeping away.”

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A Ceasefire for the Dead

Andronikos

July 19, 2022

ILIAD, BOOK 7

The sun was beginning to beat upon the fields, fresh risen into the vault of heaven from the slow still currents of deep Oceanus, when the two armies met. They could hardly recognize their dead, but they washed the clotted gore from off them, shed tears over them, and lifted them upon their waggons.

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The Trojans Push Back

Andronikos

July 24, 2022

ILIAD, BOOK 8

But when the sun had reached mid-heaven, the sire of all balanced his golden scales, and put two fates of death within them, one for the Trojans and the other for the Achaeans. He took the balance by the middle, and when he lifted it up the day of the Achaeans sank; the death-fraught scale of the Achaeans settled down upon the ground, while that of the Trojans rose heavenwards. Then he thundered aloud from Ida, and sent the glare of his lightning upon the Achaeans; when they saw this, pale fear fell upon them and they were sore afraid.

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Agamemnon's Petition to Achilles

Andronikos

July 31, 2022

ILIAD, BOOK 9

“Cruel Jove gave me his solemn promise that I should sack the city of Troy before returning, but he has played me false, and is now bidding me to go ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of much people… Now, therefore, let us all do as I say and sail back to our own country, for we shall not take Troy.”

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Incursion of Spies

Andronikos

August 7, 2022

ILIAD, BOOK 10

“Menelaus, we both of us need shrewd counsel to save the Argives and our ships, for Jove has changed his mind, and inclines towards Hector’s sacrifices rather than ours.”

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Book 11: A Fleeting Stalemate

Book 12: The Trojans Breach the Gates

Book 13: Tug of War

Book 14: Hera “Distracts” Zeus

Book 15: Hector Brings Fire and Fury

Book 16: Patroclus Enters the War

Book 17: The Fight Over Patroclus

Book 18: Achilles Vows to Fight

Book 19: Achilles and Agamemnon Reconcile

Book 20: Achilles and the Gods Enter the War

Book 21: Achilles Splits the Trojan Army