Iliad

Ancient siege poem

The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, recounting events during the Trojan War—specifically the wrath of Achilles and its consequences.

Along with the Odyssey, it stands as a foundational work of Western literature.

References to the Iliad often invoke themes of heroism, fate, and the brutality of war: an Iliad of woes.

Trojan War

Troy

Ancient Anatolian city

AchillesGreek hero, mortal heel
HectorMasculine given name
AgamemnonMycenaean king, war leader

Priam · Helen · Paris · Patroclus · Odysseus · Ajax · Diomedes · Andromache · Cassandra · Trojans

Homeric

Homer

Ancient Greek epic composer

OdysseyEpic of homecoming
bardPoet of epics
epithetsCharacterizing phrases for people

in medias res · oral tradition · recitation · muse · Calliope · formulaic · wine-dark sea · rosy-fingered dawn · swift-footed

heroism

valor

Courage in danger

courageFortitude facing danger
gloryExalted honor and praise
honorHigh regard, moral dignity

warrior · combat · prowess · sacrifice · mortality · rage · vengeance · duel · funeral games · burial rites

epic

verse

Metered poetic passage

narrativeAccount of events
sagaExtended heroic narrative
heroicExceptionally brave and noble

monomyth · archetype · tragedy · oral poetry · ancient literature · classical · cantos · books · proem · fate

mythology

Zeus

Greek sky god

AthenaGreek wisdom deity
ApolloSun deity, moonshot namesake
AphroditeGreek goddess of love

Hera · Ares · Thetis · Hephaestus · Olympus · divine intervention · prophecy · fate · immortals · nectar

Iliad

Troy

Homer

valor

verse

Zeus

Iliad

Opposites

Phrases

Categories