Iliad

The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic traditionally attributed to Homer, centred on Achilles’ anger during the Trojan War. A quarrel with Agamemnon draws Achilles away from battle, with consequences for his companions and the opposing Trojans. The narrative follows a limited period within the war rather than recounting its entire course. Speeches, formal comparisons, and encounters between mortals and gods give the poem its scale, while scenes of family affection and mourning bring the conflict close to individual lives. The meeting of Achilles and Priam gives particular weight to grief shared across the division between enemies.