The Iliad of Homer

Rodney Merrill speaks about his translation of the Iliad.

Achilles keeps dragging Hektor; angered, Zeus says he must give up the body; with Hermes’ aid Priam goes to ransom it; they meet, Achilles restrains the battle, and Hektor is buried.

In sleep, Achilles sees Patróklos; he mourns; the winds light the pyre. He holds funeral games: chariot-race, boxing, wrestling, foot-race, spear-fight, hurling a lump, archery, and spear-throw.

Achilles kills many men in the river, who begs him to stop; refused, he attacks and chases him; Hera sends Hephaistos to quell the river; the gods oppose each other; the Trojans go into the city.

Zeus sends the gods to aid both sides; Achilles speaks and fights with Aineías, whom Poseidon saves, then faces Hektor, whom Apollo saves, but Achilles keeps on rampaging and killing.

Achilles, Thetis, and sea-nymphs lament the heroes’ death; Achilles rescues Patróklos’ body; at Thetis’ request, Hephaistos makes arms for her son, including an elaborate shield.

Achaians and Trojans battle over Patroklos’ body; Hektor dons Achilles’ armor; with gods aiding, both sides rally; Achilles’ horses weep; Meneláos sends Antílochos to tell Achilles.

Yielding to Patroklos’ plea, Achilles sends him out with the Mÿrmidons; he kills Sarpédon and routs the Trojans; Apollo takes the body, rouses Hektor, and helps him kill Patróklos.

Battle rages at the wall, which gods later will destroy; the Trojans keep attacking, despite an omen; Sarpedon speaks to Glaukos; Ajax and Teukros fight, and Hektor breaks the gate.

Agamemnon rampages and is wounded; Paris and Sokos wound Diomédes, Odysseus, Macháon, and Eurÿpylos; Achilles sends Patróklos to question Nestor, who urges him to enter the battle.

Heeding Nestor’s rebuke, Agamemnon offers gifts to Achilles if he will yield; Odysseus, Ajax, and Phoinix bear the message and plead with him; he relents—he will stay but not fight.

Zeus keeps the gods away; the Achaians flee the Trojans’ attack but defend the wall; Hera and Athena plan to aid them, but Zeus forbids it; at night the Trojans build watchfires.

Hektor challenges the Achaian lords; Agamemnon restrains Meneláos, Ajax is chosen, the fight is halted; Paris will not return Helen; the dead are buried, the Achaians build defenses.

Without any gods the battle continues; Agamemnon kills Adréstos; Diomédes and Glaukos talk and exchange armor; in Troy Hektor encounters Hékabè, Helen, Paris, and Andrómachè.

Athena grants Diomédes glory; he kills Pándaros and wounds Aineías and Aphrodítè; the Achaian and Trojan lords battle, joined by Athena, Hera, and Ares, whom Diomédes wounds.

After telling a deceptive dream, Agamemnon orders withdrawal; Odysseus halts it, then scourges Thersites for abusing Agamemnon; the lords rouse the army. Catalog of Achaians and Trojans.

Forced by Apollo’s punishment to return Chryses’ daughter, Agamemnon takes Achilles’ prize-girl; Achilles has his mother ask Zeus to favor the Trojans; Hera finds out and quarrels with Zeus.