The Iliad: A New Prose Translation
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- Create Date：2021-08-12 09:59:38
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Homer
- ISBN：0140444440
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Summary
The Iliad is the first and the greatest literary achievement of Greek civilization - an epic poem without rival in the literature of the world， and the cornerstone of Western culture。
The story of the Iliad centres on the critical events in the last year of the Trojan War， which lead to Achilleus' killing of Hektor and determine the fate of Troy。 But Homer's theme is not simply war or heroism。 With compassion and humanity， he presents a universal and tragic view of the world， of human life lived under the shadow of suffering and death， set against a vast and largely unpitying divine background。 The Iliad is the first of the great tragedies。
The story of the Iliad centres on the critical events in the last year of the Trojan War， which lead to Achilleus' killing of Hektor and determine the fate of Troy。 But Homer's theme is not simply war or heroism。 With compassion and humanity， he presents a universal and tragic view of the world， of human life lived under the shadow of suffering and death， set against a vast and largely unpitying divine background。 The Iliad is the first of the great tragedies。
Reviews
Evi
，
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐I have only a few things to say。It's definitely worth reading （duh） but you need to brace yourself for a slow-paced， overly detailed writing。 （Like all the classics。） There's so much description and I found the dialogue pretty complex and long。 （Again like all the classics。） Agamemnon is unlikable and the only reason I hate Hector is because he killed Patroclus and he was my favourite。 Achilles and Patroclus were meant as a couple， I've never been more convinced。 The Song of Achilles Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐I have only a few things to say。It's definitely worth reading （duh） but you need to brace yourself for a slow-paced， overly detailed writing。 （Like all the classics。） There's so much description and I found the dialogue pretty complex and long。 （Again like all the classics。） Agamemnon is unlikable and the only reason I hate Hector is because he killed Patroclus and he was my favourite。 Achilles and Patroclus were meant as a couple， I've never been more convinced。 The Song of Achilles had it right。The whole thing reminded my of an Ancient Greek version of The Desperate Housewives or literally any other reality Tv show。 Also， on a side note the gods reminded me of myself whenever I play The Sims。 。。。more
Dylan
，
*3。5 stars*Tough for me to get through， but well worth the time。 Diomedes is awesome。
Ryan Ripamonti
，
The great epic， beautifully translated。
Zach
，
Best translation
H。
，
Dịch ko nuốt nổi
·˚˖ ੈ‧₊◌maguii·˚˖ ੈ‧₊◌
，
en breve se empieza la canción de aquiles 😈😈
DANIELY BORGES
，
4，5
Julia Kingston
，
Can’t say I enjoyed this per se but glad I read it。 Lots of war。
Jelle Rijntjes
，
While having a great view on the IJsselmeer （which is a big lake in the Netherlands）， and seeing many boats， old sailing boats and new yachts， I started reading about the Troyan war。 About the 1202 ships supporting Agamemnon in his war against the Troyans。 With some imagination it felt like I was there on the Troyan territoy waiting for the great war to start。It was not only the view which made this epic convincing， also the powerful writing style of Homer made me yell like a Greek when Nestor h While having a great view on the IJsselmeer （which is a big lake in the Netherlands）， and seeing many boats， old sailing boats and new yachts， I started reading about the Troyan war。 About the 1202 ships supporting Agamemnon in his war against the Troyans。 With some imagination it felt like I was there on the Troyan territoy waiting for the great war to start。It was not only the view which made this epic convincing， also the powerful writing style of Homer made me yell like a Greek when Nestor had spoken。 Then there were also very powerful metaphors of nature and society， mastered by Homer， which made the this epic feel epic。 This makes the Iliad such a timeless book。 。。。more
Jane
，
A true classic。 I will read this again in the future as I am sure I missed some nuggets of Homer's brilliance。 The lessons of war and the human cost that were described then remain applicable today。 A true classic。 I will read this again in the future as I am sure I missed some nuggets of Homer's brilliance。 The lessons of war and the human cost that were described then remain applicable today。 。。。more
Chelle
，
I tried。 I really did。 But I really struggled with the egos and how men will destroy the world when those egos are bruised。 I knew going in that women were treated as objects， but it still bothered me。
Doran Walters
，
I read the Stephen Miller translation。 I thought the translation was very well done。 It had a wonderful flow。 Not my favorite book。 There was a lot of death and it was definitely a slow read， but it's something I suggest everyone reads。 I read the Stephen Miller translation。 I thought the translation was very well done。 It had a wonderful flow。 Not my favorite book。 There was a lot of death and it was definitely a slow read， but it's something I suggest everyone reads。 。。。more
Tom Nowak
，
The Iliad is a great read。 This was my first time going through but I intend to read the story again later in life to appreciate more of the details。
Mete Öztürk
，
EDEBİYAT'IN DOĞUŞUNDA EDEBİYAT EMEKLEMİYOR， DENEMELER ŞEKLİNDE GELMİYOR， PATLIYOR EDEBİYAT EDEBİYAT'IN DOĞUŞUNDA EDEBİYAT EMEKLEMİYOR， DENEMELER ŞEKLİNDE GELMİYOR， PATLIYOR EDEBİYAT 。。。more
Lebenator
，
4。5 stars。 I can't give it a ten out of ten because it has too much involvement of the gods and fatalism。 I also believe Homer could have made it half the size。 I love the theme of pride which is seen throughout in Achilles。 4。5 stars。 I can't give it a ten out of ten because it has too much involvement of the gods and fatalism。 I also believe Homer could have made it half the size。 I love the theme of pride which is seen throughout in Achilles。 。。。more
Lucy
，
I really liked this book， I was worried that it’d be hard to understand but it really wasn’t， the names get confusing especially because they sometimes use different names for the same person， but overall I really liked it。
Xime
，
Me sorprendió bastante este libro。 Pensé que no me iba a gustar y que me aburría mucho ya que no suelo leer clásicos。 Pero al contrario me encanto y lo disfrute muchísimo。 Pero como toda lectura tiene sus cosas malas。Las escenas de guerra fueron muy buenas pero había cosas tan grotescas y retorcidas no entiendo como lo permitían。 Lo mismo ocurre con las mujeres。 Las trataban como simples recompensas o esclavas y se aprovechaban de ellas poniendo como excusa que ellos merecían ese premio ya que f Me sorprendió bastante este libro。 Pensé que no me iba a gustar y que me aburría mucho ya que no suelo leer clásicos。 Pero al contrario me encanto y lo disfrute muchísimo。 Pero como toda lectura tiene sus cosas malas。Las escenas de guerra fueron muy buenas pero había cosas tan grotescas y retorcidas no entiendo como lo permitían。 Lo mismo ocurre con las mujeres。 Las trataban como simples recompensas o esclavas y se aprovechaban de ellas poniendo como excusa que ellos merecían ese premio ya que fueron grandes héroes en la guerra。 La historia de Aquiles en si fue tal y como la conocía。 Pero era tan obvio que tenía algo con Patroclus y Homero no se animó a decir la verdad。 Héctor me asombró descubrir que tenía una esposa y un hijo y sentí lástima por todo lo que sufrió durante su vida。 Le termine teniendo cariño。Y LOS DIOSESNo le soporto a ellos。 Lo único que hacen es enojarse por cosas insignificantes y causan polémicas entre los mortales。 En fin esa fue mi reseña de la Iliada ya quiero leer la odisea 。。。more
Diego Cabero
，
Es compleja y pesada de leer， sin embargo， por algo es un clásico， las descripciones de las batallas son increíbles， y sumamente crudas， me encantó。 Si aún no la has leído una recomendación indiscutible， pero si hazte a la idea de que va costar en ciertos momentos。
Margot
，
This is more a comment on the translation and my enjoyment of a lot of dry name listing and repetition of dialogue。 Obviously part of human legacy。
Flo
，
A big dose of testosterone makes for great poetry。The first blockbuster still entertains and inspires。 Still， don't try to force it at the wrong time。 For me， the third time was the charm。 A big dose of testosterone makes for great poetry。The first blockbuster still entertains and inspires。 Still， don't try to force it at the wrong time。 For me， the third time was the charm。 。。。more
Anna
，
There's a reason it's called a classic。。。 There's a reason it's called a classic。。。 。。。more
Kaj Roihio
，
Viime kesänä luin Eino Leinon suomennoksen Jumalaisesta näytelmästä ja tänä kesänä tuli tartuttua melkein sitäkin vaativampaan haasteeseen。 Otto Mannisen vuoden 1919 Iliaan käännös on samanlaista vaikeaselkoista muinaissuomea， jolla tavoitellaan antiikin Kreikan ilmaisua paketoituna daktyyliseen heksametriin siinä missä myöhäiskeskiajan italiaakin tertsiinimuodossa。 Lopputulos on vaikeaselkoinen ja raskas ja onkin välillä ollut pakko hakea muualta tietoa， mitä tässä nyt oikein tapahtuu。 Siinä mi Viime kesänä luin Eino Leinon suomennoksen Jumalaisesta näytelmästä ja tänä kesänä tuli tartuttua melkein sitäkin vaativampaan haasteeseen。 Otto Mannisen vuoden 1919 Iliaan käännös on samanlaista vaikeaselkoista muinaissuomea， jolla tavoitellaan antiikin Kreikan ilmaisua paketoituna daktyyliseen heksametriin siinä missä myöhäiskeskiajan italiaakin tertsiinimuodossa。 Lopputulos on vaikeaselkoinen ja raskas ja onkin välillä ollut pakko hakea muualta tietoa， mitä tässä nyt oikein tapahtuu。 Siinä mielessä Jumalainen näytelmä ja Ilias ovat käännöksinä samalla asialla， että ne molemmat ovat kansallisia monumentteja， nuoren valtion piti lunastaa olemassaolonsa myös kulttuurin ja sivistyksen kentällä， joten maailmankirjallisuuden perusjärkäleet täytyi saada myös suomeksi。 Oli tämän lukeminen myös hyvä muistutus siitä， kuinka edelleen muinaisen kreikan tarusto elää jopa nykyajan suomenkielessä。 Akilleen kantapäät， Troijan hevoset， amatsonit ja vastaavat ovat edelleen tuttuja ilmaisuja。 Jos Iliasta arvioi ihan vain sisältönsä puolesta， niin onhan tämä aivan helvetin väkivaltainen。 Miekoilla ja keihäillä lävistetään tai hakataan kappaleiksi soturi jos toinenkin ja naiset ryöstetään orjiksi。 Jos joku nyt erehtyy heittäytymään sovittelevaksi， on aina hyvä muistuttaa， että leijonat eivät tee sopimuksia ihmisten kanssa eivätkä sudet lampaiden。 Poikansa häpäistyä ruumista hautausta varten pyytävä itkevä vanhus sentään saa sääliä osakseen。 Kyllä silloinkin osattiin。 。。。more
Seolhe
，
What can I even say about this book that hasn't been said a million times before me by people smarter than me？ This book is fascinating， at times brilliant and surprisingly moving。 It is also somewhat mind-numbing and tedious at times， especially during the seemingly endless battle scenes （not gonna lie， I definitely spaced out a little at times during the battle scenes）。 And don't even get me started on the Catalogue of Ships。 With that said， there are some very interesting things to note about What can I even say about this book that hasn't been said a million times before me by people smarter than me？ This book is fascinating， at times brilliant and surprisingly moving。 It is also somewhat mind-numbing and tedious at times， especially during the seemingly endless battle scenes （not gonna lie， I definitely spaced out a little at times during the battle scenes）。 And don't even get me started on the Catalogue of Ships。 With that said， there are some very interesting things to note about the battle scenes， as much as I found them difficult to get through。 On the one hand， the endless listing of Greek and Trojan warriors stabbing each other starts feeling pretty gratuitous， especially when this is the level of gory detail you're getting a lot of the time: "And Idomeneus stabbed Erymas in his mouth with the pitiless bronze; the bronze spearhead made its way right on through below the brain， then shivered the white bones， and his teeth were shaken out; both his eyes filled with blood， so through his mouth and down through his nose he spouted blood as he gaped for breath， and the black cloud of death folded round him。"But for all the graphic， detailed descriptions of murder and mutilation， Homer adds a level of compassion and humanity to his war scenes that is rarely， if ever， seen in modern works of literature。 There are no nameless， faceless throngs of soldiers battling each other in the Iliad。 Each and every warrior， Greek or Trojan， is named prior to his death， and a lot of the time Homer tells you something of his life。 Take for example: "Then Telemonian Ajax struck the son of Anthemion， virginal Simoeosios in the flower of youth， whom time ago his mother， descending from Mount Ida， bore by the banks of the river Simoeis， when she followed with her parents to watch the flocks。 And for this reason they named him Simoeisios; his parents he did not repay for his nurture， and short was the life allotted to him， who was broken under the spear of great-hearted Ajax。" Essentially， Homer humanizes his cannon fodder， and I have to respect him for that。 And you know， that's something that really surprised me actually， because I'm someone who can't stand war stories or long and intricate battle scenes。 Military history is my least favourite area of history， and I quickly get bored of action scenes in movies。 Fighting and battles just do not appeal to me on any level， so I'm surprised I was able to find anything positive at all in the many battle scenes of The Iliad。 Another thing that surprised me， just based on popular adaptations and cultural osmosis， was how surprisingly sympathetic Menelaus is painted， because I feel like today he's often portrayed as this mean， jealous brute （possibly to make Paris seem like the more romantic option）。 This especially comes accross in the aftermath of Patroclus death as he stands over his body， willing to protect him with his life so that he won't be desecrated by the Trojans。 "And the felling of Patroclus at the hands of the Trojans in the fighting did not go unnoticed by warlike Menelaos， and he set out through the frontline warriors armored in gleaming bronze， and stood astride the body， as a mother cow lows over her firstborn， knowing nothing before this of bearing young; so fair-haired Menelaos stood over Patroclus。"I mean， what a surprisingly tender and endearing image in the midst of this violent battle scene！I don't know what else to say， and I'm running out of steam， so here instead are a list of some of my favourite moments， in no particular order: - The entire scene between Helen and Aphrodite in book 3， but especially the line "Do not provoke me， wicked girl， lest I drop you in anger， and hate you as much as I now terribly love you。" That line lives rent free in my gay ass head。 Also， an honourable mention to the scene between Helen and Paris that follows where Paris is read for filth by Helen。 - The heartbreaking parting of Hektor and Andromache in book 6。 It is， by far， the most tragic and poignant scene in the entire story。 - Patroclus' ghost visiting Achilles in his sleep and begging him to give him his funeral rites so he can pass into Hades。 - The laments of Andromache， Hecuba and Helen in the final scene as Priam returns the body of Hector to Troy。 And for shits and giggles， some of my favourite strange or funny moments from the story: - That moment in the duel between Hector and Ajax where Hector throws a really big rock at Ajax， and then Ajax retaliates by finding an even bigger rock to hurl at Hector。 - When Hera， in an effort to distract Zeus from the battle， dons the enchanted breastband she's borrowed from Aphrodite in order to seduce her husband and Zeus responds by going "Wow Hera， you're so hot！ You're even sexier than ALL of these ladies I cheated on you with！" and then goes on to just list them one after the other。- Any time one deity would be hurt by another and then goes running to Zeus going "Daaaaad， *insert name here* hit me！"， like when Ares gets his ass kicked by Athena or Artemis is slapped by Hera。- That one time Achilles picks a fight with a literal river and is nearly drowned。 - That one time Achilles' horse suddenly gains the ability to speak only to tell Achilles that he's gonna die soon （which he already knew， btw） and then never speaks again。 In conclusion， here are the things I'm taking away from my reading of this book: - Helen deserves better- Briseis also deserves better- Honestly all the women deserve better- Hector and Andromache are the only valid hetero couple- Achilles is a literal baby and also a piece of shit- Patroclus deserves better too， actually- Menelaus is less shitty than I expected - Agamemnon is still a piece of shit though- All of the gods are absolutely ridiculousIt may have taken me over 4 months to read this （although to be fair I had to put it down for all of June because of my Pride reading project）， but at least I've finally read it！ 。。。more
Maria Teresa
，
Se que es un gran clásico， pero tuve que apoyarme de una versión menos reboltosa para entender la obra， es entretenida y buena para hacer un repaso de los dioses y heroes griegos， pero su contenido realmente no me sorprendió
Dronom
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Based。 Awesome stuff。
Joshua Gross
，
Omg I never thought I would read the Iliad。 An ancient epic poem about war？ I figured if I read any Homer it would be the Odyssey。 And then， when I decided I was going to read the Iliad， I was intimidated and found an online version with interactive annotations to help give me context。However， as I read the Iliad I found myself immersed in it， amazed that I could be moved and affected by a story in 2021 that was written in ancient times about a war。 It really emphasizes the horrors and sadness a Omg I never thought I would read the Iliad。 An ancient epic poem about war？ I figured if I read any Homer it would be the Odyssey。 And then， when I decided I was going to read the Iliad， I was intimidated and found an online version with interactive annotations to help give me context。However， as I read the Iliad I found myself immersed in it， amazed that I could be moved and affected by a story in 2021 that was written in ancient times about a war。 It really emphasizes the horrors and sadness and mixed emotions of war， the various emotions capable of human beings， and life at that time。I was moved by Hector， father and husband， fighting for his people。 I was sad about Patroclus， thrown into battle only to die needlessly。 I was amazed by how petty and ridiculous the gods were。 I cheered for triumphs in battle， and I raged about what a giant dickhead Achilles is。I really enjoyed the Iliad and am glad I decided to finally read it。 。。。more
Ryan Gellman
，
I have no particular interest in Greek mythology， and I read this book only because it was required by a course。 In the end， I was more than pleasantly surprised。 The class was excellent， and I got much more out of the book than I ever could have guessed。 I highly recommend this translation。 Lombardo uses contemporary English and the language really sizzles。 I think this makes the book far more relatable than other ancient works that I have come across。 Definitely worth the read！ （I see that Lom I have no particular interest in Greek mythology， and I read this book only because it was required by a course。 In the end， I was more than pleasantly surprised。 The class was excellent， and I got much more out of the book than I ever could have guessed。 I highly recommend this translation。 Lombardo uses contemporary English and the language really sizzles。 I think this makes the book far more relatable than other ancient works that I have come across。 Definitely worth the read！ （I see that Lombardo explained that the cover photo， Robert F。 Sargent's Into the Jaws of Death， of US soldiers landing on the beach in Normandy during WWII， is intended to express the universality of the horrors of war， and I think this was a nice touch。） 。。。more
Brenda
，
If you like battles and fawning worship of the gods， arrogance of heroes， braggadocio， and repetitious phrases such as "he fell with his armor rattling about him"， this is a good read for you。It has been 30 years since I studied Greek Mythology， and while this is Roman， it seems easily intertwined with Greek。 Or， certain TV shows over the years have interchanged heroes' names for convenience。 Either way， the use of multiple names for places and heroes left a bit of confusion。 Such as Paris is al If you like battles and fawning worship of the gods， arrogance of heroes， braggadocio， and repetitious phrases such as "he fell with his armor rattling about him"， this is a good read for you。It has been 30 years since I studied Greek Mythology， and while this is Roman， it seems easily intertwined with Greek。 Or， certain TV shows over the years have interchanged heroes' names for convenience。 Either way， the use of multiple names for places and heroes left a bit of confusion。 Such as Paris is also Alexandrus， Troy is also Illius？ I'm not searching through for the name at the moment。The book feels and reads much like the Bible we know today。 Although， at least with the Christian god he doesn't change sides。 Roman gods are duplicitous， sending their favors where they will despite pledges。 It was an interesting lesson， and sometimes an interesting read， though so full。 of。 drama。 Oh my goodness。 I had no idea！ 。。。more
Sarah North
，
This was moderately painful compared to Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey。 Possibly a personal preference for story over names/brutal violence？ This was moderately painful compared to Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey。 Possibly a personal preference for story over names/brutal violence？ 。。。more
Mlath-
，