Synopsis of the Iliad


Theword “Iliad”means “a poemabout Ilium”which is the Latin name for Troy, an ancient city located in modern-day Turkey. The Iliad is an epic poem by Homer that tells the story of a span of about 40 days that took place during the ninth year of the TrojanWar,which was a long and bloody conlict between the Trojans and theGreeks, also known as the Achaeans.


The story of the Iliad starts with a disagreement between Agamemnon, the supreme commander of the Achaean army, andAchilles, its greatest warrior. At this time, the common practice for armieswas to take tributes, or spoils of war, from areas that they had conquered and plundered. Tributes included bothmaterialwealth and people, particularly women. The Achaean army has just taken tributes fromthe areas surrounding Troy, and Agamemnon claims a girl who is the daughter of a priest of Apollo, the god of music and prophecy. When the priest attempts to ransom his daughter andAgamemnon refuses,Apollo becomes angry and punishes the Achaean army with a plague. The Achaeans beg Agamemnon to return the girl, but he stillwill not relent. Eventually he agrees to give her back if he is compensatedwith another girl.Achilles objects to this violently, arguing with and insulting his commanding oficer. Agamemnon responds by demanding that Briseis, the young woman Achilles has taken as tribute, be given to him. Achilles has come to care deeply for Briseis, and while Agamemnon is given what he demands, Achilles is furious and refuses to ight for the Achaeans anymore.


Without warrior,


their greatest the ighting


begins to go badly for the Achaeans. As Achilles broods, his lifelong


Patroclus visits


Patroclus and Achilles FromVase ca. 500 BCE


convince him to rejoin the battle.When this fails, Patroclus offers to wear


companion to


TheWrath of Achilles Michel Drolling, 1819


Achilles’ armor to battle in an attempt to frighten the Trojanswith the thought that Achilles has returned. This offer is embraced by Achilles.


Meanwhile, Hector, the eldest son of King Priam of Troy, attempts to defend his city, a task which is made dificult by the intervention of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, on the side of the Achaeans.Hector sees Patroclus and believes himto beAchilles.AsHector tries to confront him,Achilles’ armor falls off, revealing Patroclus. Furious, Hector kills Patroclus and stripsAchilles’ armor off himand wears it himself.


Achilles is deeply aggrieved and enraged by the death of his closest friend at the hands of hismortal enemy.He inally re-enters the battle, after receiving newarmormade by Hephaestus, the god of ire. He hunts Hector down on the battleield, inds him wearing his own armor, and kills him. Still furious and vengeful, he tiesHector’s body to the back of his chariot and drags it around Patroclus’ burial site for ten days.


Grieving, elderly King Priam sets out from Troy to retrieve Hector’s body. Aided by Hermes, the god of messengers, he crosses the battle lines and begs Achilles to let himbury his son. Achilles, taking pity on King Priam, relents and promises to halt the ighting for eleven days to allowa proper burial.


3


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