The Iliad, attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer, is one of the greatest epics in Western literature. Set during the final year of the Trojan War, it centers on the rage of Achilles, the mightiest Greek warrior, after a quarrel with King Agamemnon. As Achilles withdraws from battle, the Trojans, led by the noble Hector, gain the upper hand. The poem culminates in Achilles's return to combat, his slaying of Hector, and the moving funeral of the Trojan prince. Composed around the eighth century BCE, The Iliad explores timeless themes of honor, fate, glory, mortality, and the human cost of war.
