The Iliad and the Odyssey

The Iliad and the Odyssey are two epic poems attributed to Homer. The Iliad tells of death and glory across a few days in the struggle between the Greeks and the Trojans, with mortal men playing out their fate under the gaze of the gods. The Odyssey is a collection of tall traveller's tales in which Odysseus, returning home from the Trojan War, meets one-eyed giants, witches and beautiful temptresses before reaching Ithaca and his faithful wife Penelope. Developed around three thousand years ago, both stories explore war, wandering, gods and the indestructible human spirit.

Why You Should Read?

• Experience the tension of mortal men facing their fate while the gods watch over the struggle.
• Enjoy the tall traveller's tales and marvels that Odysseus encounters on his journey back from war.
• Meet Penelope, the faithful wife who waits at Ithaca for Odysseus to come home.
• Understand the formulaic poetry style of the time that helps explain these very long works.

About the Author

Homer was an ancient Greek poet, possibly born around the 8th century BC, who is traditionally credited with writing the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems foundational to ancient Greek literature. He was greatly revered in ancient Greek society and is considered among the most influential authors in history. Debate continues over who he was and whether he existed, known as the Homeric Question, and scholars generally hold that the two poems had separate authors.