Iliad

One of Greek mythology’s oldest poems, the Iliad was narrated by Homer and written around the 8th century BC. Also called the Song of Ilium, it is set during the ten-year Trojan War, although it doesn’t cover the war’s entirety. It narrates the battles, strategies, events, and quarrels that take place during a few weeks in the last year of the War. It explains, in narrative or dialogue, everything that needs to be known about the Trojan War, with the arguments between King Agamemnon and Achilles taking centrestage from time to time.

The Iliad was written in Homeric Greek and was divided into 24 books, which collectively have more than 15,000 lines of poetry. Mere centuries after it was written, being able to recite this book by heart become a sign of an individual’s high intellect. Since it talks about warfare, strategies, and treaties, this classic is a reason and a lesson unto itself.

Alexander Pope’s English translation is till date considered to be the closest to the original. Pope maintained that a translator must translate literally and not add his own spin to the original meaning. Pope’s translations from the 18th century are held in high regard and retain the essence of this classic.