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THE ILIAD OF HOMER
Richmond Lattimore, Paul Shorey Professor of Freek at Bryn Mawr, is well known as poet and translator and is co-editor of The Complete Greek Tragedies. "The finest translation of Homer ever made into the English language." - William Arrowsmith
- GenresClassics
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1969
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About the author
Homer
4,713 books7,028 followersHomer (Greek: Όμηρος born c. 8th century BC) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered and influential authors in history.
Homer's Iliad centers on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles during the last year of the Trojan War. The Odyssey chronicles the ten-year journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, back to his home after the fall of Troy. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. Despite being predominantly known for its tragic and serious themes, the Homeric poems also contain instances of comedy and laughter.
Homer's epic poems shaped aspects of ancient Greek culture and education, fostering ideals of heroism, glory, and honor. To Plato, Homer was simply the one who "has taught Greece" (τὴν Ἑλλάδα πεπαίδευκεν). In Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to Homer as "Poet sovereign", king of all poets; in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the "greatest of poets". From antiquity to the present day, Homeric epics have inspired many famous works of literature, music, art, and film.
The question of by whom, when, where and under what circumstances the Iliad and Odyssey were composed continues to be debated. Scholars remain divided as to whether the two works are the product of a single author. It is thought that the poems were composed at some point around the late eighth or early seventh century BC. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity; the most widespread account was that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider these accounts legendary.
French: Homère, Italian: Omero, Portuguese, Spanish: Homero.
Homer's Iliad centers on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles during the last year of the Trojan War. The Odyssey chronicles the ten-year journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, back to his home after the fall of Troy. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. Despite being predominantly known for its tragic and serious themes, the Homeric poems also contain instances of comedy and laughter.
Homer's epic poems shaped aspects of ancient Greek culture and education, fostering ideals of heroism, glory, and honor. To Plato, Homer was simply the one who "has taught Greece" (τὴν Ἑλλάδα πεπαίδευκεν). In Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to Homer as "Poet sovereign", king of all poets; in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the "greatest of poets". From antiquity to the present day, Homeric epics have inspired many famous works of literature, music, art, and film.
The question of by whom, when, where and under what circumstances the Iliad and Odyssey were composed continues to be debated. Scholars remain divided as to whether the two works are the product of a single author. It is thought that the poems were composed at some point around the late eighth or early seventh century BC. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity; the most widespread account was that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider these accounts legendary.
French: Homère, Italian: Omero, Portuguese, Spanish: Homero.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 9, 2024
well, now I have read the Iliad
July 9, 2025
Reading the introduction after finishing the book was so revelatory. This is probably the most obvious statement ever, but I didn’t want to know more about the plot than I already did.
The writing style fitting a formula clarified why certain epithets were couple with characters like Menelaus of the war cry or grey-eyed Athena. I enjoyed Robert Lattimore’s translation except for the wholesale repetition of phrases, this is true to the Greek, but not particularly fun reading experience.
The parts I read aloud sounded wonderful. I compared this to Emily Wilson’s translation and Lattimore definitely makes you do more work. He alternates between Achaians, Argives, and Danaans when referring to the Greeks, his spellings/name choices are unfamiliar to me (Achilleus, Alexandros, Aias) but I enjoyed his writing style. Reading Wilson’s translator’s note and then comparing paragraphs I can see she accomplished everything she set out to. Her version is immediately comprehensible as it would’ve been to an audience back then. Her introduction is also wonderful, especially the discussions surrounding the portrayal of women which Lattimore does not explore as much. Lattimore is writing from the 60s so I don’t know if the Trojans were considered as historical figures during his time, he describes them as entirely mythological whereas Wilson explains that there have been many Trojan wars I did prefer his analysis of Hektor though! Who knew Shakespeare and I would agree on him. I also liked the analysis of Aias.
Keeping track of characters was occasionally pretty difficult, it was fun to learn more about them in the glossary. The gods were frustrating to read about, I didn’t realise how much they intervened. It’s also interesting to see their power dynamics and the strategy behind the war.
Since I didn’t read the introduction I was surprised the Iliad started towards the end of the war, now I understand it.
There’s so much I misremembered or had read an alternate version of. I loved Wilson’s translation of Achilles’ mourning, it felt rawer than Lattimore’s. The famous “I loved him like my head, my life, myself” hit exactly as hard as everyone said it would.
Hektor’s death hurt as much as I thought it would. I didn’t realise Athene deceived him, BUT I’m happy he wasn’t defiled at least.
I didn’t love everything about this but I see why it endured. There were parts I had to force myself through like the funeral games-which though relevant, read incredibly DULL. The smallness of human lives in that godly tug of war.
Side note: the opening line (Sing o Muses….), one of my favourite beginnings!
In terms of translations I’m glad Lattimore’s was my first Iliad, I liked having to do the work.
The writing style fitting a formula clarified why certain epithets were couple with characters like Menelaus of the war cry or grey-eyed Athena. I enjoyed Robert Lattimore’s translation except for the wholesale repetition of phrases, this is true to the Greek, but not particularly fun reading experience.
The parts I read aloud sounded wonderful. I compared this to Emily Wilson’s translation and Lattimore definitely makes you do more work. He alternates between Achaians, Argives, and Danaans when referring to the Greeks, his spellings/name choices are unfamiliar to me (Achilleus, Alexandros, Aias) but I enjoyed his writing style. Reading Wilson’s translator’s note and then comparing paragraphs I can see she accomplished everything she set out to. Her version is immediately comprehensible as it would’ve been to an audience back then. Her introduction is also wonderful, especially the discussions surrounding the portrayal of women which Lattimore does not explore as much. Lattimore is writing from the 60s so I don’t know if the Trojans were considered as historical figures during his time, he describes them as entirely mythological whereas Wilson explains that there have been many Trojan wars I did prefer his analysis of Hektor though! Who knew Shakespeare and I would agree on him. I also liked the analysis of Aias.
Keeping track of characters was occasionally pretty difficult, it was fun to learn more about them in the glossary. The gods were frustrating to read about, I didn’t realise how much they intervened. It’s also interesting to see their power dynamics and the strategy behind the war.
Since I didn’t read the introduction I was surprised the Iliad started towards the end of the war, now I understand it.
There’s so much I misremembered or had read an alternate version of. I loved Wilson’s translation of Achilles’ mourning, it felt rawer than Lattimore’s. The famous “I loved him like my head, my life, myself” hit exactly as hard as everyone said it would.
Hektor’s death hurt as much as I thought it would. I didn’t realise Athene deceived him, BUT I’m happy he wasn’t defiled at least.
I didn’t love everything about this but I see why it endured. There were parts I had to force myself through like the funeral games-which though relevant, read incredibly DULL. The smallness of human lives in that godly tug of war.
Side note: the opening line (Sing o Muses….), one of my favourite beginnings!
In terms of translations I’m glad Lattimore’s was my first Iliad, I liked having to do the work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2023
Absolutely banger translation holy shit. I love the Iliad.
January 10, 2025
S/o Lattimore, a foremost translator of this megahistoric book
April 2, 2025
the iliad of homer translated by richmond lattimore. spectacular. the bond between achilles and patroclus was just *chefs kiss*
May 31, 2024
Favorite part was the description of the shield from Hephaestus that Achilles used against Hektor.
Had to take this one very slowly but I'm interested in the naming choices, for example the greeks being referred to as "Argives", "Danaans" and "Achaians" at different points. I'm sure there is a reason for this though! It was also applied to character names, who were sometimes nicknamed in ways other than, "Hektor son of Priam".
I feel like I have a better understanding of ancient storytelling, since much of this book felt like it had been recited in pieces meant to stand alone, though I saw in the translation notes that the 24 "books" that this is broken into are not original to the poem.
It was interesting to see the Greek gods presented as a religion that was actually practiced (via invocations in times of trouble, burnt offerings) rather than just being referenced for what they are the God of. (For example, "sent down to Hades" could be used in a modern book).
I'm not sure whether I'm just seeing this due to the media I've been looking through recently, but this book definitely presented its own logic to accepting mortality.
Achilles and Hektor are both prophesied to die, but many times explain how they aren't concerned with it. The funeral of Patroklos is quite vivid, when reading about it I picture someone imagining themselves being remembered in a similarly heroic fashion once they've died.
Had to take this one very slowly but I'm interested in the naming choices, for example the greeks being referred to as "Argives", "Danaans" and "Achaians" at different points. I'm sure there is a reason for this though! It was also applied to character names, who were sometimes nicknamed in ways other than, "Hektor son of Priam".
I feel like I have a better understanding of ancient storytelling, since much of this book felt like it had been recited in pieces meant to stand alone, though I saw in the translation notes that the 24 "books" that this is broken into are not original to the poem.
It was interesting to see the Greek gods presented as a religion that was actually practiced (via invocations in times of trouble, burnt offerings) rather than just being referenced for what they are the God of. (For example, "sent down to Hades" could be used in a modern book).
I'm not sure whether I'm just seeing this due to the media I've been looking through recently, but this book definitely presented its own logic to accepting mortality.
Achilles and Hektor are both prophesied to die, but many times explain how they aren't concerned with it. The funeral of Patroklos is quite vivid, when reading about it I picture someone imagining themselves being remembered in a similarly heroic fashion once they've died.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews