the iliad

[little_one_boy]

does any of you kwons the story of 'the iliad'? can you please summarize it for me?? please i really can't understand the story but i have to study it.. please reply to this thanks!!! [email protected]

[mono]

Hello, welcome to the forum.
I hope you, at least, had the great pleasure of reading Homer's epic, The Iliad. I loved the genius piece of work, but probably could not summarize it best.
A good summary I found, however:
http://www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/iliad/fullsumm.html
Good luck! :)

[Rachy]

I think this story is so good, Just read it again, it becomes easier the 2nd time round! Or watch the film Troy! Don't base it entirely on Troy though as many things are different, but deffinately makes the book a whole lot easier to understand after watching the film, but seriously DON'T BASE IT ON THE FILM!! had to make that clear! Lol.

[ajoe]

Thought to post this question here instead of starting a new thread...

Can anyone clarify who's a Greek and who's a Trojan and which god is on whose side? I thought Paris was a Greek, but because I read somewhere that he was Hector's brother, he's actually a Trojan? What about Helen? Is she a Greek or a Trojan? Where is Troy in today's world-map anyway? And I thought Athena was on the Greeks' side because Aphrodite was for the Troys, but there was a part where Athena refused to help the Greeks, so that just confused me all the more.

Thanks in advance for someone who actually knows what I'm rambling about and bothers to answer.

[Taliesin]

Troy is in northwestern Little-asia.

Helen is a Greek who changed to Troyan.

And why the Athena refused to help the Greeks - we think it has smth to do with sacrilege.

[papayahed]

Did Zeus forbide Athena and Hera from helping the greeks, but then they went behind his back and helped anyways?

[Razeus]

Thought to post this question here instead of starting a new thread...

Can anyone clarify who's a Greek and who's a Trojan and which god is on whose side? I thought Paris was a Greek, but because I read somewhere that he was Hector's brother, he's actually a Trojan? What about Helen? Is she a Greek or a Trojan? Where is Troy in today's world-map anyway? And I thought Athena was on the Greeks' side because Aphrodite was for the Troys, but there was a part where Athena refused to help the Greeks, so that just confused me all the more.

Thanks in advance for someone who actually knows what I'm rambling about and bothers to answer.

The Trojans are of Troy, presently known today as Turkey. The Achaens are the Greeks. Helen is a Greek, but the pretty boy of Troy stole her from her Greek husband, and damnit - he wants her back. And thus begins the war between Turkey and Greece.

[Senior2315]

I read this too long ago to be of any real help, but I would suggest that you get hold of a children's version of the story. It will be a quick read that will give you a good idea of the main parts and structure, which will help you enormously when you read the Iliad properly.

[Seasider]

I love The Iliad and it is one of my greatest regrets that I never learned Ancient Greek to read it in the original. Robert Fagles' translation is IMO the best modern translation but I also love Pope's translation into classical pentameters. The most touching part for me comes in Book 6 when Hector the great hero of Troy, realising that he may soon be killed, probably by the Greek hero Achilles, goes to say goodbye to his wife and their infant son. Andromache tries to persuade him to stay. She says that as a husband and a father his duty is to protect his family. But Hector is concerned for his honour and reputation and believes that can only be assured by dying in battle for Troy. During the scene he goes to pick his little son up but he has his great shining helmet on and the baby starts to cry. So very gently he takes it off and takes the baby and talks to him about his future. And then he takes his last farewell of his wife, knowing that she and his son will be taken captive by the victorious Greeks. This is part of Pope's translation of the scene:-

[I]Thus having spoke,the illustrious chief of Troy
Stretched his fond arms to clasp the lovely boy.
The babe clung crying to his nurse's breast,
Scared at the dazzling helm and nodding crest.
With secret pleasure each fond parent smiled,
And Hector hasted to relieve his child
The glittering terrors from his brow unbound
And placed the beaming helmet on the ground
Then kissed the child, and lifting high in air
Thus to the gods preferred a father's prayer:

O thou! whose glory fills the ethereal throne.
And all ye deathless powers protect my son!
Grant him, like me,to purchase just renown,
To guard the Trojans, to defend the Crown,
Against his country's foes the war to wage
And rise the Hector of the future age.[I]

I hope you come to enjoy The Iliad as much as I and millions of others since Homer's time have.

[mal4mac]

Alberto Manguel summarises the whole story in his book on Homer - he might help you understand it as well.