The Iliad (Penguin Classics) by Homer Revised Edition [Paperback(2003)]

by Homer

Good condition COMES with a magnetic bookmark

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Mythology, Poetry, Greek Mythology, War, Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Homer (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.

Reviews

[Beth Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t read the Iliad because I thought I would enjoy it. I (mostly) didn’t read it to look cool on the tube. I read it because when I was 17 I tried to do a Classics A-level as the only girl in the class and the teacher made me feel so ostracised within a single hour that I quit and did philosophy & ethics instead (much girlier). It was probably one of the first times I ever consciously personally experienced misogyny and I have always regretted not standing my ground. Also, I am a giant neek for linguistics and I studied the Homer Question when I was learning about mediality in language. It's insane to think that as one of the oldest works of literature the little old Iliad rivals the telephone and the steam engine as one of the greatest technological advancements in human history... the CRADLE of literate society and it's just readily available to us for the price of £9.99!

I distinctly remember the misogynistic Classics teacher implying I wouldn't like the Iliad because it is all about men fighting each other. On this count he was partially correct. The battle scenes are endless and repetitive, and we have the pleasure of learning every single victim's name, father's name, grandfather's name, place of birth, whether the place he is from has many fast horses or lovely streams and so on. While this does not make for a riveting read it helps to remember the context. We are used to succinctness in written text, but this is an epic poem composed by many oral poets who necessarily use formulae and prefabricated structures to remember incredible amounts of detail. Spoken language is much much more circumlocutory (why use many word when few word do trick). Set down in writing it reflects the transition from oral to literate society and OBVIOUSLY it is going to seem garrulous and slow to modern audiences. It is like giving an iPad baby one of those giant home computers from the 1980s. Besides, I appreciated Homer (whoever he / they are) giving each victim of war his proper flowers. Much is made throughout the book of the tragedy of the loss of young life through conflict and the effect on the family left behind. This is in stark contrast to the immortal family of the gods, who are constantly in conflict, but for them it is a source of amusement and nobody really gets hurt. They are flippant about the lives of men, which one god compares to leaves which fade fast into colourlessness. Before reading I was unaware how essential the immortals would be to the plot. I know that pre-scientific cultures use divine intervention to explain the inexplicable but basically nothing in The Iliad happens without the influence or suggestion of a god. Looking this up I read about bicameral mind theory – idea that ancient peoples did not consider their own thoughts or the voice in their head to be part of them but to be external suggestions, belonging to divinity – ie using god to explain consciousness. No idea what psychologists think about this but it’s interesting.

The last quarter of the book is so tense and emotional that I forgot the endless slog of the battle scenes. Some of the imagery had me in rhapsodies – the Achaians covering the body of Patroklos with locks of their hair, Achilleus pouring wine from a two handled cup on the earth in front of Patroklos’ hundred foot burning pyre until the earth is drenched with wine, pouring soft olive oil over the manes of immortal shining horses after washing them in bright water, Thetis the sea goddess dressing in a blue black veil and parting the sea to come out on the shore and dart up to the sky... it is so rich and lyrical. I can really see the influence on every film, book, video game, song, poem ever made about heroes and war.

I want to read more epic poetry, maybe some Indian vedas or if I'm brave some of the Serbian stuff :)

[A.K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 not my favourite translation also there was too much no homo going on for achilles and patroclus

[Guadalupe Aguilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wrath, honor, glory, and fate—everything I could want in a book lmao. At first, reading this was just joke and I mostly bought this book for the pretty cover, but when I was reading Caroline Alexander’s translation and found out that the first line of the poem was “Wrath—sing, goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Peleus’ son Achilles,” uh yeah I was hooked. This translation has rage instead of wrath but that is cool too. I was expecting this to be horrible to get through but who knew that Ancient Greek epic poems and its tragedies were actually interesting and at other points funny. Regardless, after reading Pat Barker’s “Silence of the Girls” I will see every translation and retelling differently. The women are always silenced, abused, and blamed for the decisions of stupidly narcissistic men. Still, I will look forward to reading Caroline Alexander’s translation as well as Emily Wilson’s. Achilles, they can never make me form a complete opinion of you— you prideful "godlike" fool.

[Will Butts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the greatest sitcom of all time. It feels like a reality tv show. The filler episodes are when Homer cuts to the gods up on Olympus. The plot is pretty simple. Guy meets girl, fall in love, sail away. Except wait… the girl is married. Uh oh. So now the lovers have a bunch of angry Greeks with spears chasing after them. Yikes…
So now you have two armies fighting over a woman. Then, Achilles and Agamemnon get into an argument over a girl. Basically the entire plot is men arguing over women and then getting stabbed because of it. Then the gods get involved… imagine being a Trojan and going into battle. Facing you are warriors like Achilles and Diomedes. Your brother just got hit by lightning from Zeus. Your best friend just walked into enemy lines because he saw Aphrodite. Poseidon summons a sharknado and Athena has owls flying around. And you’re just standing in the middle with a flimsy spear and some bronze armor.

The Iliad had some absolutely crazy moments. At one point two guys have a duel, then they realize their ancestors were friends so they trade armor. One got armor worth 100 oxen, and the other 9. Poor guy.

When Achilles gears up to go into battle his horses are brought to him. Randomly they… start talking? Achilles isn’t shocked like literally anybody else but is like “good advice guys.”

I really love the Iliad. It is one of the greatest epics in my opinion. I also really liked this translation. There are references included for beginner readers and a synopsis in the back. The author translates terms that were only used once and explains them which was super helpful. I’m sure the glossary in the back is nice too, but I wouldn’t know. I HANDWROTE every single character in the book on 14 pages of paper. If there is a character in the book there name is catalogued.
I don’t recommend this.

P.S. I saw something online that frustrated me. It was someone saying that Ares (one of the two major gods of war) is the god of courage and bravery and never gets involved in petty quarrels. False… Homer makes it pretty clear Ares is only the god of carnage and a coward. He runs around like a drama queen with his entourage of besties, Panic, Strife, and Rout. He also takes his older brother’s wife as his lover. When he gets involved in the siege of Troy he gets wounded. As soon as his blood is drawn he flees back to Olympus.

[alyarikan · Rating 5 out of 5]

fairly smooth read despite of 1 million different characters and their family trees which is acceptable if you write such a perfect tragedy and its inevitably for all those who are mortal even if you are Achilleus son of a king and an immortal sea goddess. The parallels, the blatant foreshadowing and the epic dialogues and monologues amidst war. love itttt life changed

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ground is dark with blood

With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad. Each translation can give a different insight and feel to the story. Everyone will have a favorite. I have several.

There are partial translations that are worth reading but as with any abridgment or incomplete Iliad, you will never know what is missing.

For example:

“I Thee beseech, O Goddess milde, the hateful hate to plaine”
- Translated by Arthur Hall, 1581

“Achilles Peleus Son's destructive Rage. Great Goddess, sing”
- Translated by John Ogilby, 1669

“THE wrath of the son of Peleus, —O goddess of song, unfold! The deadly wrath of Achilles”
- Translated by James Macpherson, 1773

“Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus' son”
- Translated by Ernest Myers, 1883

“Sing, O Goddess, the ruinous wrath of Achilles, Son of Peleus”
- Translated by Ennis Rees, 1963

Unrhymed English Meter
- Translated by F.W. Newman, 1856

“Wrath be thy song, O goddess, the baneful wrath of Achilles,
Peleus’ son, which brought the Achaians numberless sorrows;
Hurling the valiant souls of heroes many to Hades,
Whilst their bodies were left for a prey unto dogs, and winged
Fowls of the air. Yet thus the will of Zeus was advancing,
E’em from the hour when first, contending fiercely, in anger
Parted Atreides, king of men, and god-like Achilles.”
The Iliad, I-IV into English hexameters. 93 pages
- Translated by Henry Smith Wright, 1885

Martin Hammond
James Inglis Cochrane, 1876
John Arthur Platt, before 1923
Michael Reck 1994 (Michael Pierce Reck)
Alston Hurd Chase and William G. Perry Jr. (prose) (1950)
F.W. Newman 1856 (Unrhymed English Meter)
Ichabod Charles Wright (vol. 1, 1859; vol. 2 was to appear in 1865)
Augustus Taber Murray for the Loeb Classical Library (1924)

There is a revised and updated version by D. Christopher H. Rieu or D.C.H. Rieu – son of E.V. Rieu

“The wrath of Achilles is my theme, the fatal wrath which, in fulfillment of the will of Zeus, brought the Achaeans so much suffering and sent the gallant souls of many noblemen to Hadês, leaving their bodies as carrion for dogs and passing birds. Let us begin, goddesses of song with the angry parting that took place between Agamemnon King of Men and the great Achilles son of Peleus. Which of the gods was it that made them quarrel?”
- Translated by E.V. Rieu, 1950 prose version

“O Goddess sing what woe the discontent
Of Thetis' Son brought to the Greeks, what Souls
Of Heroes down to Erebus it sent,
Leaving their bodies unto Dogs and Fowls;
Whilst the two Princes of the Army stove,
King Agamemnon and Achilles stout.
That so it should be the will of Jove,
But who has he that made them first fall out?
Apollo, who incensed the wrong”
- Translated by Thomas Hobbes, 1686

“O Goddess, sing Pelides Achilles’ baneful ire,
Which brought on the Achaians ten thousand sorrows dire,
And many strong souls of heroes sent down to Hades’ sway;
Themselves to all the birds and dogs became a prey,
Since first, in anger parting (it was the will of Jove),
The king of men, Atrides, and divine Achilles strove.”
- Translated by Edgar Alfred Tibbetts Boston 1907


“Sing, Devine Muse, sing the implacable wrath of Achilleus!
Heavy with Death and with woe to the banded sons of Achaia!
Many the souls of the mighty, the souls of redoubtable heroes,
Hurried by it prematurely to Hades. The vultures and wild-dogs
Tore their tombless limbs. Yet thus did the will of the Highest
Work to an end from the day when strive drove asunder,
Atreus’ son, king of men; and the Godlike leader Achileus.”
- Translated by Joseph Henry Dart, 1862 (English Hexameter verse)

“The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus’ son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades many valiant souls of heroes, and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus, the plan of Zeus came to fulfillment, from the time when firs they parted in strife Atreus’ son, King of men, and Brilliant Achilles.”
- Translated by A. T. Murray, 1924
Known for “The Parallel English / Greek - The Iliad”

“Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another.”
- Translated by Louise R. Loomis

“Goddess, sing me the anger, of Achilles, Peleus’ son, that fatal anger that brought countless sorrows on the Greeks, and sent many valiant souls of warriors down to Hades, leaving their bodies as spoil for dogs and carrion birds: for thus was the will of Zeus brought to fulfillment. Sing of it from the moment when Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, that king of men, parted in wrath from noble Achilles.”
- Translated by A. S. Kline, 2009

“O goddess! Sing the wrath of Peleus’ son,
Achilles; sing the deadly wrath that brought
Woes numberless upon the Greeks, and swept
To Hades many a valiant soul, and gave
Their limbs a prey to dogs and birds of air, -
For so had Jove appointed, - from the time
When the two chiefs, Atrides, king of men,
And great Achilles, parted first as foes.”
-Translated by William Cullen Bryant, 1870

"Rage--Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,
Murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many souls,
great fighters' souls. But made their bodies carrion,
feasts for dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving towards its end.
Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,
Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles."
-Translated by Robert Fagles, 1990 free verse

"Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another."
-Translated by Samuel Butler, 1898
Greek Latin
----- -----
Zeus. Jupiter.
Hera. Juno.
(Pallas) Athene. Minerva.
Aphrodite. Venus.
Poseidon. Neptune.
Ares. Mars.
Hephaestus. Vulcan.

"Rage:
Sing, Goddess, Achilles' rage,
Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks
Incalculable pain pitched countless souls
Of heroes into Hades' dark,
And let their bodies rot as feasts
For dogs and birds, as Zeus' will was done.
Begin with the clash between Agamemnon--
The Greek Warlord--and godlike Achilles."
-Translated by Stanley Lombardo, 1997

"Anger be now your song, immortal one,
Akhilleus' anger, doomed and ruinous,
that caused the Akhaians loss on bitter loss
and crowded brave souls into the undergloom,
leaving so many dead men--carrion
for dogs and birds; and the will of Zeus was done.
Begin it when the two men first contending
broke with one another--
the Lord Marshal Agamémnon, Atreus' son, and Prince Akhilleus."
-Translated by Robert Fitzgerald, 1974

"Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son of Achilleus and its devastation, which puts pains thousandfold upon the Achains,
hurled in the multitudes to the house of Hade's strong souls of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished since that time when first there stood the division of conflict Atrecus' son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus."
-Translated by Richmond Lattimore, 1951

"Sing, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles' anger, ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals, consigned to Hades countless valiant souls, heroes, and left their bodies prey for dogs or feast for vultures. Zeus's will was done from when those two first quarreled and split apart, the king, Agamemnon, and matchless Achilles."
-Translated by Herbert Jordan, 2008

"An angry man-there is my story: the bitter rancor of Achillês, prince of the house of Peleus, which brought a thousand troubles upon the Achaian host. Many a strong soul it sent down to Hadês, and left the heroes themselves a prey to the dogs and carrion birds, while the will of God moved on to fulfillment."
-Translated and transliterated by W.H.D. Rouse, 1938

"Achilles' wrath, to Greece the direful spring
Of woes unnumber'd, heavenly goddess, sing!
That wrath which hurl'd to Pluto's gloomy reign
The souls of mighty chiefs untimely slain;
Whose limbs unburied on the naked shore,
Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore.
Since great Achilles and Atrides strove,
Such was the sovereign doom,
and such the will of Jove!"
-Translated by Alexander Pope, 1715-1720

"Achilles sing, O Goddess! Peleus' son;
His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woes
Caused to Achaia's host, sent many a soul
Illustrious into Ades premature,
And Heroes gave (so stood the will of Jove)
To dogs and to all ravening fowls a prey,
When fierce dispute had separated once
The noble Chief Achilles from the son
Of Atreus, Agamemnon, King of men."
-Translated by William Cowper, London 1791

"Achilles' baneful wrath - resound, O Goddess - that impos'd
Infinite sorrow on the Greeks, and the brave souls loos'd
From beasts heroic; sent them far, to that invisible cave*
That no light comforts; and their limbs to dogs and vultures gave:
To all which Jove's will give effect; from whom the first strife begun
Betwixt Atrides, king of men, and Thetis' godlike son*"
-Translated by George Chapman, 1616 the first translator of Homer.

"The Rage of Achilles--sing it now, goddess, sing through me
the deadly rage that caused the Achaeans such grief
and hurled down to Hades the souls of so many fighters,
leaving their naked flesh to be eaten by dogs
and carrion birds, as the will of Zeus was accomplished.
Begin at the time when bitter words first divided
that king of men, Agamemnon, and godlike Achilles."
-Translated by Stephen Mitchell, 2011

"Sing now, goddess, the wrath of Achilles the scion of Peleus,
ruinous rage which brought the Achaians uncounted afflictions;
many of the powerful souls it sent to the dwelling of Hades,
those of the heroes, and spoil for the dogs it made it their bodies,
plunder for the birds, and the purpose of Zeus was accomplished__"
-Translated by Rodney Merrill

"Sing, goddess, the anger of Achilles, Peleus' son,
the accused anger which brought the Achaeans countless
agonies and hurled many mighty shades of heroes into Hades,
causing them to become the prey of dogs
and all kinds of birds; and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled."
-Translated by Anthony Verity

"Of Peleus' son, Achilles, sing, O Muse,
The vengeance, deep and deadly; whence to Greece
Unnumbered ills arose; which many a soul
Of mighty warriors to the viewless shades
Ultimately sent; they on the battle plain
Unburied lay, to rav'ning dogs,
And carrion birds; but had Jove decreed,"
-Translated by Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 1862
Also known as, Edward Earl of Derby/Lord Stanley

"Sing, goddess, of the anger of Achileus, son of Peleus, the accrued anger which brought uncounted anguish on the Achaians and hurled down to Hades many mighty souls of heroes, making their bodies the prey to dogs and the birds' feasting: and this was the working of Zeus' will"
-Translated by Martin Hammond

"Sing, Goddess of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus-
that murderous anger which condemned Achaeans
to countless agonies and threw many warrior souls
deep into Hades, leaving their dead bodies
carrion food for dogs and birds-
all in the fulfillment of the will of Zeus"
- Translated by Professor Ian Johnston, British Columbia, 2006

"The rage, sing O goddess, of Achilles, son of Peleus,
The destructive anger that brought ten-thousand pains to the
Achaeans and sent many brave souls of fighting men to the house
of Hades and made their bodies a feast for dogs
and all kinds of birds. For such was the will of Zeus."
- Translated by Barry B. Powell, 2013

“Sing of rage, Goddess, that bane of Akhilleus,
Peleus' son, which caused untold pain for Akhaians,
sent down throngs of powerful spirits to Aides,
war-chiefs rendered the prize of dogs and every
sort of bird.”
- Translated by Edward McCrorie Born: Nov 19, 1936

“Sing O goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, which brought countless woes upon the Greeks and hurled many valiant souls of heroes down to hades, and themselves a prey to dogs and all birds [but the will of Jove was being accomplished], from the time when Atrides, king of men, and noble Achilles, first contending, were disunited.”
- Translated by Theodore Alois Buckley 1873

"Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus' son, the ruinous wrath that brought on the Achaians woes innumerable, and hurled down into Hades many strong souls of heroes, and gave their bodies to be a prey to dogs and all winged fowls; and so the counsel of Zeus wrought out its accomplishment from the day when first strife parted Atreides king of men and noble Achilles."
- Translated by Andrew Lang, M.A., Walter Leaf, Litt.D., And Ernest Myers, M.A.
Books I. - IX. . . . . W. Leaf.
" X. - XVI. . . . . A. Lang.
" XVII. - XXIV. . . . . E. Myers.
- Translated 1883

A translation is by Ennis Samuel Rees, Jr. (March 17, 1925 - March 24, 2009) more in the line of poetry.

A translation is by Thomas Starling Norgate 1864. Dramatic blank verse.

A translation is by Arthur Sanders Way 1882.

A translation is by W.C. Bryant 1870

Wrath–sing, goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Peleus’ son Achilles,
that inflicted woes without number upon the Achaeans,
hurled forth to Hades many strong souls of warriors
and rendered their bodies prey for the dogs,
for all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished;
sing from when they too first stood in conflict-
Atreus’ son, lord of men, and godlike Achilles.
- Translated by Caroline Alexander, 2015

“Wrath, goddess, sing of Achilles Pēleus’s son’s
calamitous wrath, which hit the Achaians with countless ills-
many the valiant souls it saw off down to Hādēs,
souls of heroes, their selves left as carrion for dogs
and all the birds of prey, and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled-
from the first moment those two men parted in fury,
Atreus’s son, king of men, and the godlike Achilles.”
- Translated by Peter Green, 2015

Brutal wrath of Akhilléüs,
Péleüs’s sone, o goddess sing-
Which put unnumbered woes on Akhaioi,
And which hurled to Hades many valiant souls of heroes,
And which made them prey for dogs and all the birds-
And Zeus’s will was being brought to pass-
From when the son of Átreüs, men’s king,
And brilliant Akhilléüs first conceived offense and quarreled.
Who of the gods then brought those two
In strive together fighting?
Ths son of Léto and Zeus.
- Translated by William Guy 2015

Sing of wrath, goddess – the deadly wrath of Peleus' son Achilles,
that brought sufferings by the thousands down on the Achaeans and
hurled so many sturdy souls to the realm of Hades, souls of splendid
warriors, while they themselves were left for dogs and all manner of
carrion birds to feast on, as the will of Zeus went driving toward its
goal; start your song from the moment when the two first stood face
to face in open strife – Agamemnon, lord of men, and godlike Achilles.
- Translated by Joe Sachs 2018

Goddess, sing the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, which brought countless woes to the Achaeans and sent the souls of many brave heroes to Hades, their bodies made into a feast for dogs and crows all to carry out the unfathomable will of Zeus. Begin from the first time when they first quarreled: the warrior king, son of Atreus, and godlike Achilles.
- Translated by Michael Heumann 2021


===============================

There are so many lesser-known translations that they cannot fit in this review. However, they are worth searching for. Most nowadays are just OCR reprints.

You will find that some translations are easier to read but others are easier to listen to on recordings, lectures, Kindle, and the like. If you do not see information on specific translators, it is still worth the speculation and purchase. Right after the translation readability and understanding, do not overlook the introduction which gives an insight into what you are about to read.

The Stephen Mitchell translation goes through each of the major characters so well that you think you know them before you start reading. Other introductions explain the struggle between different types of power. Rodney Merrill's 28-page introduction focuses on singing.

The Peter Green translation is easy to read. It is almost a transliteration. However, it is all the scholarly supplemental information that gives worth to his contribution.

The Oxford University Press Barry B. Powell has an extensive introduction with real "MAPS". Also, there is the information of the finder Schliemann. We even get annotations on the meaning being conveyed.

The Caroline Alexander Translation is most excellent for a first translation reading. While other translations rely so much on being scholarly, her translation with plenty of white space makes you feel that you are partaking in listening in awe. The only thing missing is the background music.

Our story takes place in the ninth year of the ongoing war. We get some introduction to the first nine years but they are just a background to this tale of pride, sorrow, and revenge. The story will also end abruptly before the end of the war.

We have a wide conflict between the Trojans and Achaeans over a matter of pride; the gods get to take sides and many times direct spears and shields.

Although the more focused conflict is the power struggle between two different types of power. That of Achilles, son of Peleus and the greatest individual warrior, and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, whose power comes from the position.

We are treated to a blow-by-blow inside story as to what each is thinking and an unvarnished description of the perils of war and the search for Arête (to be more like Aries, God of War.)

Next before reading the Odyssey, you will want to bridge the gap with “The War at Troy: What Homer Didn't Tell” by Quintus of Smyrna.

[eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

“as it is, you lie mangled here, and my heart rejects all thought of food. not that i lack it. i lack you.”
genuinely who gave homer the right bc wtf… ok just shatter my heart then will you?
but is it pretentious of me to say that this is one of my favourite books now? not that i’m going to reread it (literally took me almost an entire year), but because i think this book is proof of how storytelling is one of the oldest and most important art forms to exist. i’m just in awe of how these complex characters have remained so prevalent in literature literally since their creation thousands of years ago - it’s really a testament to the immense significance of this poem. the iliad is truly the first great book to ever be written; i’m seeing into another world, a completely different society where men operate completely differently.

[Catherine Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

gut wrenchingly sad

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can you say about a classic like this? Unquestionably tied for my favorite book of all. Providence, glory, striving in the face of meaninglessness and injustice. How timeless. How beautiful. This is THE translation to read.

[Raylene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and exhilarating. Homer really illustrates human emotions during war so well.

[alpi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hector'un ölümü sonrası duygulandım sadece, Burçin Hoca'yı da kınıyorum

[Linnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Not the best translation (I just need to learn Greek at this point).

[Juan Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y el caballo??? La historia no comienza por el inicio y mucho menos termina por el final, porque lo que narra no es la guerra de Troya, sino la ira de Aquiles. (godlike)

Desde el inicio se repite la idea de gloria como si fuera lo más alto que se puede alcanzar y a medida que avanza el libro surge la duda de si esa gloria realmente vale la pena. Sigo sin tener claro por qué comenzó la guerra pero al ver el desenlace me puedo imaginar que solo era una excusa para agarrarse a vergazos y justo eso representa Aquiles: un símbolo vivo de una cultura que idealiza, entre otras cosas, la violencia.

Mientras tanto, los dioses traen un cagadero, ayudando a unos y saboteando a otros, minimizando las vidas de los personajes como si fueran simples herramientas del destino. Curiosamente, es cuando Aquiles deja de comportarse como un dios y acepta que va a morir como un humano cuando gana poder sobre si mismo cosa que nadie mas en el libro parece tener.

Narrativamente no pude apreciar lo que dicen de que esta escrito en tiempos, pero por otro lado, disfruté cómo la historia puede verse desde una perspectiva panorámica, y al mismo tiempo enfocarse en detalles minúsculos de tramas no particularmente relevantes.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this archaic book difficult to read.
It was sometimes beautiful, but sometimes repetitive and jarring.
The story did shine once in a while, when I least expected it. Little "adventure" scenes were my favourite part. I also loved the funeral games, and the ending and some of the back stories of the characters were the main things that moved me or made me enjoy it. The fighting scenes in the first half of the book did get boring after a while and too gruesome but some like Diomedes rampage were fun initially, in a way at least.
In terms of the writing I think the speeches were interesting the dialogues and the similies were some of the best parts of the story.

And really the ending made it worth the long read to finally be able to see the humanity and deeper part of these characters like Achilles and Hector and even made me shed a tear through the lament of Helen.

Hector was by far the more noble of the two between Achilles and himself, in how he treated Helen, in his sacrafice for his country, in his courage and manlieness even when he knew he would not win. He never shrinked from the fight because he loved his home, his family and his nation. He and His Father were also pious in the way that they knew how. On the other hand, Achilles only really loved Patroclus and his father, and to an extent his myrmidons, but mainly himself and his strong feelings of desiring Glory. He was a classic Narccisist.

And Achilles maybe he had some virtues but he lacked the most important ones that makes you likeable or even loveable. The willingness to die and his courage however is quite admirable.

My favourite Characters besides Hector were Diomedes, Odysseus, Priam, and even Helen, because she was humble to admit her mistake and also endured a lot of pain and regretted what she did (after all it was Paris and Aphrodite who were seducing her against her better judgement).

I hate Paris for what he did in Kidnapping Helen and causing this war and also his refusal to fight like a man or to admit his mistake and end the conflict rather than make all his countrymen pay for what he alone did.
I also hated these pagan gods Athene and Hera, and also Zeus.
Especially when they sabotaged the peace that could have been attained by menelaus' victory in the duel. I hated that!
Also for them they found it appropriate to destroy an entire people because they were not gratified by being called the most beautiful? And Zeus he was very impotent and let his wife walk over him. He did not answer the prayers of those who served him but was brow beaten by his wife.



Overall, I suffered a lot to read this and I realise this was basically the "bible" of the greco-pagans for a reason. It is a completely different worldview to Christianity. One of slaves, murders and raiding. What a horrible time of human life it reflects. Of course, I do admire their raw strength which undoubtably came from their farming background. I'm sure they were great farmers and If they were real they should have stuck to farming rather than killing.

[Usamah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a tragedy. The first hundred or so pages were quite hard to get into especially after Achilles leaves the battle. There's a nonstop flow of battle and names being thrown at you of people who die a page later which makes it quite overbearing. But once the dispute between the gods begin and Achilles once again is the focused character, the story flows really well. War stories are generally fun for Politics or Tragedy to me and this is a pure tragedy with how Achilles moarns Patroclus. They're definitely not "best friends" that's for sure. A bigger tragedy is how the conclusion will forever be lost to time of how the war between the Greeks and Trojans ends in a way we don't truly know

[Dylann Jaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars (rounded up as the story is still excellent) mostly due to the translation. This is a shorter translation that seems to leave out a lot of context between Achilles and Patroclus, as well as detail left out within larger battles, which overall is a worthwhile read but the detail and context seemingly found in other translations hurts its rating massively.

[Alex Down · Rating 4 out of 5]

was a massive fan, found some bits really funny that probably shouldn't have been funny. did not appreciate the naming of every single person killed though or the catalogue of ships as just made it more confusing lol but overall i really enjoyed it

[regina ferarri · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the end, we know in horror that Achilles' death is just around the corner, but The Iliad deliberately cuts itself short before we see the prophesy even fulfilled, because the story isn't about that. We start with a dispute between comrades, and end with conciliation between enemies. Starting with the literal and metaphorical flaming arrows of rage, and ending with a fire quenched, the smoke of Hector's pyre drifting over Troy.

[eva jamison · Rating 2 out of 5]

it hardly took me this long to read this, tbf it is quite a long one - lowkey homer sorry ur mid but i’m glad to have tried em out eh

[Abdullah Idris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Repetitive at times, but an enjoyable story overall

[Bren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the Iliad. I did however enjoy the 10+ year man baby tantrum, I’m glad to know male incompetence has been with us since ancient times <3

[Zau Spinola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muito bom! É um livro longo e com trechos cansativos, como quando ele cita todos que morreram em uma batalha e de quem eles eram filhos. Isso acontece com frequência. Mas de resto, ver o orgulho intransigente de Aquiles, a honra, a força e o dever de Heitor, a mesquinhez de Paris, a intransigência de Agamenon, a sabedoria de Nestor e acima de tudo a astúcia de Ulisses, a quem agora acompanho em seu triste retorno na Odisseia, é de um aprendizado magnífico.

O que mais me surpreendeu na verdade foi a seriedade com que gregos e troianos, em Homero, tratam os deuses, os sacrifícios e os juramentos. Chegam ao ponto de parar a batalha entre os dois exércitos para fazer um juramento antes de uma batalha mano a mano entre Menelau e Paris.

É interessante como Homero escreve também. Muitas vezes ele mesmo conta o que irá acontecer, mas mesmo assim ficamos intrigados para ver como a cena irá se desenrolar, mesmo sabendo o seu fim.

Ótima leitura, com ótimos aprendizados. Após ler, recomendo ouvir o podcast do prof Clovis de Barros “Inédita pamonha”, nos episódios que ele analisa a Ilíada. Maravilhoso!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was daunting. Before I read Madeline Miller's Song of Achilles I knew nothing of this story. I think Song was a good little introduction, but this was still a very complex and layered.

[Jansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

snooooooze fest 🥱 This guy rocks you to sleep like bouncing along a gravel road locked in the trunk of a civic wearing an iron helmet

[Rory Andresier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first translation of the Iliad I have had the pleasure of reading, so the 5 star rating is also influenced by the beauty of the text, along with the translation.

Firstly the text itself. Some of the language used, most notably describing death and similes used for fights within battles, is unmatched anywhere else in literature. Words & phrases like ‘warm death’, ‘armour clattered around him’, among so many others, invoke such vivid imagery that brings the battle alive. The similes, including comparing armies to oceans and soldiers to lions, despite heavily repeated, are great at describing the tenacity and aggression of those involved. I can see why the Iliad is so amazingly reviewed and highly praised.

Secondly, specifics about the translation and this version. I thoroughly enjoyed the introduction and found the glossary & appendix very deeply informative. The explanation of why certain things were done to the text was good, and easy to understand. However I do have a slight issue with the explanations of what’s going on in the margins. The overview of a chapter at the start is fine, as easily avoided for someone who wants to come to realisations about events rather than being told them. But the ones in the margins, tend to draw my eyes attentions to them, and seem slightly too early most of the time, hence ruining the beauty of the text by so bluntly explaining them. I can also understand that this may be very helpful to a lot of people, unfamiliar with the characters and Greek mythology in general, so hope you understand this is only personal preference.

Thoroughly worth reading, lovely cover too and an edition I will keep for my whole life.

[nacholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It didn't take THAT long, took a pause after 10th Dec and continued on 15th Jan.

book is pretty, cloth-like but has to be wrapped in order to preserve it. For it's internals, the LONG analysis prior to the actual book, was also very insightful.

Reading throughout, although some aspects were intentionally repetitive, Homer has a sense of narrative and internal emotional introspection. The last few chapters, was what sold it for me. God's having beef however human it seemed, was interesting to me bc it was my first intentional dive (head in) into Greek mythos.

Definitely worth the read for Homer's ability describing interpersonal combat sequences, painting a harrowing image of war, destiny, consequences, death and life, human/god politics, belief system, subversion of expectations and more.

I have to admit however, it took me WAY longer than expected bc of the translation and some paragraphs had to reread several times in order to grasp Homer's pov. Glad I am to finish this, Odyssey and Aeneid sometime in the future.

[Iyintosoluwami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically;

Achilles = the anticlimactic antihero

S/o Homer. Love the use of time. Lotta zooming in and out to paint a detailed picture. Of war. Of humanity. Of the cosmos.

To that end, Hephaestus forging the new armour feels like the high point. Rather than any description of the fighting.

Also - not sure why, but I kept expecting Achilles to die.

I guess being inundated by my teachers as a youth, and knowing how it occurs led me to believe it'd be recorded in Western civs most enduring work of literature (save the Bible).

All in all, no warts.

Beautiful rendition by Penguin and the folks who translated. Robert Fagles "winged words" might make their way into my personal lexicon. Definitely one I'll come back to.

[Daniel Swayze]

So much blood...so much...

[Janine Calupitan · Rating 4 out of 5]

rage of achilles drives the story

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ground is dark with blood

With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad. Each translation can give a different insight and feel to the story. Everyone will have a favorite. I have several.

There are partial translations that are worth reading but as with any abridgment or incomplete Iliad, you will never know what is missing.

For example:

“I Thee beseech, O Goddess milde, the hateful hate to plaine”
- Translated by Arthur Hall, 1581

“Achilles Peleus Son's destructive Rage. Great Goddess, sing”
- Translated by John Ogilby, 1669

“THE wrath of the son of Peleus, —O goddess of song, unfold! The deadly wrath of Achilles”
- Translated by James Macpherson, 1773

“Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus' son”
- Translated by Ernest Myers, 1883

“Sing, O Goddess, the ruinous wrath of Achilles, Son of Peleus”
- Translated by Ennis Rees, 1963

Unrhymed English Meter
- Translated by F.W. Newman, 1856

“Wrath be thy song, O goddess, the baneful wrath of Achilles,
Peleus’ son, which brought the Achaians numberless sorrows;
Hurling the valiant souls of heroes many to Hades,
Whilst their bodies were left for a prey unto dogs, and winged
Fowls of the air. Yet thus the will of Zeus was advancing,
E’em from the hour when first, contending fiercely, in anger
Parted Atreides, king of men, and god-like Achilles.”
The Iliad, I-IV into English hexameters. 93 pages
- Translated by Henry Smith Wright, 1885

Martin Hammond
James Inglis Cochrane, 1876
John Arthur Platt, before 1923
Michael Reck 1994 (Michael Pierce Reck)
Alston Hurd Chase and William G. Perry Jr. (prose) (1950)
F.W. Newman 1856 (Unrhymed English Meter)
Ichabod Charles Wright (vol. 1, 1859; vol. 2 was to appear in 1865)
Augustus Taber Murray for the Loeb Classical Library (1924)

There is a revised and updated version by D. Christopher H. Rieu or D.C.H. Rieu – son of E.V. Rieu

“The wrath of Achilles is my theme, the fatal wrath which, in fulfillment of the will of Zeus, brought the Achaeans so much suffering and sent the gallant souls of many noblemen to Hadês, leaving their bodies as carrion for dogs and passing birds. Let us begin, goddesses of song with the angry parting that took place between Agamemnon King of Men and the great Achilles son of Peleus. Which of the gods was it that made them quarrel?”
- Translated by E.V. Rieu, 1950 prose version

“O Goddess sing what woe the discontent
Of Thetis' Son brought to the Greeks, what Souls
Of Heroes down to Erebus it sent,
Leaving their bodies unto Dogs and Fowls;
Whilst the two Princes of the Army stove,
King Agamemnon and Achilles stout.
That so it should be the will of Jove,
But who has he that made them first fall out?
Apollo, who incensed the wrong”
- Translated by Thomas Hobbes, 1686

“O Goddess, sing Pelides Achilles’ baneful ire,
Which brought on the Achaians ten thousand sorrows dire,
And many strong souls of heroes sent down to Hades’ sway;
Themselves to all the birds and dogs became a prey,
Since first, in anger parting (it was the will of Jove),
The king of men, Atrides, and divine Achilles strove.”
- Translated by Edgar Alfred Tibbetts Boston 1907


“Sing, Devine Muse, sing the implacable wrath of Achilleus!
Heavy with Death and with woe to the banded sons of Achaia!
Many the souls of the mighty, the souls of redoubtable heroes,
Hurried by it prematurely to Hades. The vultures and wild-dogs
Tore their tombless limbs. Yet thus did the will of the Highest
Work to an end from the day when strive drove asunder,
Atreus’ son, king of men; and the Godlike leader Achileus.”
- Translated by Joseph Henry Dart, 1862 (English Hexameter verse)

“The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus’ son, Achilles, that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans, and sent forth to Hades many valiant souls of heroes, and made them themselves spoil for dogs and every bird; thus, the plan of Zeus came to fulfillment, from the time when firs they parted in strife Atreus’ son, King of men, and Brilliant Achilles.”
- Translated by A. T. Murray, 1924
Known for “The Parallel English / Greek - The Iliad”

“Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another.”
- Translated by Louise R. Loomis

“Goddess, sing me the anger, of Achilles, Peleus’ son, that fatal anger that brought countless sorrows on the Greeks, and sent many valiant souls of warriors down to Hades, leaving their bodies as spoil for dogs and carrion birds: for thus was the will of Zeus brought to fulfillment. Sing of it from the moment when Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, that king of men, parted in wrath from noble Achilles.”
- Translated by A. S. Kline, 2009

“O goddess! Sing the wrath of Peleus’ son,
Achilles; sing the deadly wrath that brought
Woes numberless upon the Greeks, and swept
To Hades many a valiant soul, and gave
Their limbs a prey to dogs and birds of air, -
For so had Jove appointed, - from the time
When the two chiefs, Atrides, king of men,
And great Achilles, parted first as foes.”
-Translated by William Cullen Bryant, 1870

"Rage--Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,
Murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many souls,
great fighters' souls. But made their bodies carrion,
feasts for dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving towards its end.
Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,
Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles."
-Translated by Robert Fagles, 1990 free verse

"Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another."
-Translated by Samuel Butler, 1898
Greek Latin
----- -----
Zeus. Jupiter.
Hera. Juno.
(Pallas) Athene. Minerva.
Aphrodite. Venus.
Poseidon. Neptune.
Ares. Mars.
Hephaestus. Vulcan.

"Rage:
Sing, Goddess, Achilles' rage,
Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks
Incalculable pain pitched countless souls
Of heroes into Hades' dark,
And let their bodies rot as feasts
For dogs and birds, as Zeus' will was done.
Begin with the clash between Agamemnon--
The Greek Warlord--and godlike Achilles."
-Translated by Stanley Lombardo, 1997

"Anger be now your song, immortal one,
Akhilleus' anger, doomed and ruinous,
that caused the Akhaians loss on bitter loss
and crowded brave souls into the undergloom,
leaving so many dead men--carrion
for dogs and birds; and the will of Zeus was done.
Begin it when the two men first contending
broke with one another--
the Lord Marshal Agamémnon, Atreus' son, and Prince Akhilleus."
-Translated by Robert Fitzgerald, 1974

"Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus' son of Achilleus and its devastation, which puts pains thousandfold upon the Achains,
hurled in the multitudes to the house of Hade's strong souls of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished since that time when first there stood the division of conflict Atrecus' son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus."
-Translated by Richmond Lattimore, 1951

"Sing, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles' anger, ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals, consigned to Hades countless valiant souls, heroes, and left their bodies prey for dogs or feast for vultures. Zeus's will was done from when those two first quarreled and split apart, the king, Agamemnon, and matchless Achilles."
-Translated by Herbert Jordan, 2008

"An angry man-there is my story: the bitter rancor of Achillês, prince of the house of Peleus, which brought a thousand troubles upon the Achaian host. Many a strong soul it sent down to Hadês, and left the heroes themselves a prey to the dogs and carrion birds, while the will of God moved on to fulfillment."
-Translated and transliterated by W.H.D. Rouse, 1938

"Achilles' wrath, to Greece the direful spring
Of woes unnumber'd, heavenly goddess, sing!
That wrath which hurl'd to Pluto's gloomy reign
The souls of mighty chiefs untimely slain;
Whose limbs unburied on the naked shore,
Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore.
Since great Achilles and Atrides strove,
Such was the sovereign doom,
and such the will of Jove!"
-Translated by Alexander Pope, 1715-1720

"Achilles sing, O Goddess! Peleus' son;
His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woes
Caused to Achaia's host, sent many a soul
Illustrious into Ades premature,
And Heroes gave (so stood the will of Jove)
To dogs and to all ravening fowls a prey,
When fierce dispute had separated once
The noble Chief Achilles from the son
Of Atreus, Agamemnon, King of men."
-Translated by William Cowper, London 1791

"Achilles' baneful wrath - resound, O Goddess - that impos'd
Infinite sorrow on the Greeks, and the brave souls loos'd
From beasts heroic; sent them far, to that invisible cave*
That no light comforts; and their limbs to dogs and vultures gave:
To all which Jove's will give effect; from whom the first strife begun
Betwixt Atrides, king of men, and Thetis' godlike son*"
-Translated by George Chapman, 1616 the first translator of Homer.

"The Rage of Achilles--sing it now, goddess, sing through me
the deadly rage that caused the Achaeans such grief
and hurled down to Hades the souls of so many fighters,
leaving their naked flesh to be eaten by dogs
and carrion birds, as the will of Zeus was accomplished.
Begin at the time when bitter words first divided
that king of men, Agamemnon, and godlike Achilles."
-Translated by Stephen Mitchell, 2011

"Sing now, goddess, the wrath of Achilles the scion of Peleus,
ruinous rage which brought the Achaians uncounted afflictions;
many of the powerful souls it sent to the dwelling of Hades,
those of the heroes, and spoil for the dogs it made it their bodies,
plunder for the birds, and the purpose of Zeus was accomplished__"
-Translated by Rodney Merrill

"Sing, goddess, the anger of Achilles, Peleus' son,
the accused anger which brought the Achaeans countless
agonies and hurled many mighty shades of heroes into Hades,
causing them to become the prey of dogs
and all kinds of birds; and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled."
-Translated by Anthony Verity

"Of Peleus' son, Achilles, sing, O Muse,
The vengeance, deep and deadly; whence to Greece
Unnumbered ills arose; which many a soul
Of mighty warriors to the viewless shades
Ultimately sent; they on the battle plain
Unburied lay, to rav'ning dogs,
And carrion birds; but had Jove decreed,"
-Translated by Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 1862
Also known as, Edward Earl of Derby/Lord Stanley

"Sing, goddess, of the anger of Achileus, son of Peleus, the accrued anger which brought uncounted anguish on the Achaians and hurled down to Hades many mighty souls of heroes, making their bodies the prey to dogs and the birds' feasting: and this was the working of Zeus' will"
-Translated by Martin Hammond

"Sing, Goddess of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus-
that murderous anger which condemned Achaeans
to countless agonies and threw many warrior souls
deep into Hades, leaving their dead bodies
carrion food for dogs and birds-
all in the fulfillment of the will of Zeus"
- Translated by Professor Ian Johnston, British Columbia, 2006

"The rage, sing O goddess, of Achilles, son of Peleus,
The destructive anger that brought ten-thousand pains to the
Achaeans and sent many brave souls of fighting men to the house
of Hades and made their bodies a feast for dogs
and all kinds of birds. For such was the will of Zeus."
- Translated by Barry B. Powell, 2013

“Sing of rage, Goddess, that bane of Akhilleus,
Peleus' son, which caused untold pain for Akhaians,
sent down throngs of powerful spirits to Aides,
war-chiefs rendered the prize of dogs and every
sort of bird.”
- Translated by Edward McCrorie Born: Nov 19, 1936

“Sing O goddess, the destructive wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus, which brought countless woes upon the Greeks and hurled many valiant souls of heroes down to hades, and themselves a prey to dogs and all birds [but the will of Jove was being accomplished], from the time when Atrides, king of men, and noble Achilles, first contending, were disunited.”
- Translated by Theodore Alois Buckley 1873

"Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus' son, the ruinous wrath that brought on the Achaians woes innumerable, and hurled down into Hades many strong souls of heroes, and gave their bodies to be a prey to dogs and all winged fowls; and so the counsel of Zeus wrought out its accomplishment from the day when first strife parted Atreides king of men and noble Achilles."
- Translated by Andrew Lang, M.A., Walter Leaf, Litt.D., And Ernest Myers, M.A.
Books I. - IX. . . . . W. Leaf.
" X. - XVI. . . . . A. Lang.
" XVII. - XXIV. . . . . E. Myers.
- Translated 1883

A translation is by Ennis Samuel Rees, Jr. (March 17, 1925 - March 24, 2009) more in the line of poetry.

A translation is by Thomas Starling Norgate 1864. Dramatic blank verse.

A translation is by Arthur Sanders Way 1882.

A translation is by W.C. Bryant 1870

Wrath–sing, goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Peleus’ son Achilles,
that inflicted woes without number upon the Achaeans,
hurled forth to Hades many strong souls of warriors
and rendered their bodies prey for the dogs,
for all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished;
sing from when they too first stood in conflict-
Atreus’ son, lord of men, and godlike Achilles.
- Translated by Caroline Alexander, 2015

“Wrath, goddess, sing of Achilles Pēleus’s son’s
calamitous wrath, which hit the Achaians with countless ills-
many the valiant souls it saw off down to Hādēs,
souls of heroes, their selves left as carrion for dogs
and all the birds of prey, and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled-
from the first moment those two men parted in fury,
Atreus’s son, king of men, and the godlike Achilles.”
- Translated by Peter Green, 2015

Brutal wrath of Akhilléüs,
Péleüs’s sone, o goddess sing-
Which put unnumbered woes on Akhaioi,
And which hurled to Hades many valiant souls of heroes,
And which made them prey for dogs and all the birds-
And Zeus’s will was being brought to pass-
From when the son of Átreüs, men’s king,
And brilliant Akhilléüs first conceived offense and quarreled.
Who of the gods then brought those two
In strive together fighting?
Ths son of Léto and Zeus.
- Translated by William Guy 2015

Sing of wrath, goddess – the deadly wrath of Peleus' son Achilles,
that brought sufferings by the thousands down on the Achaeans and
hurled so many sturdy souls to the realm of Hades, souls of splendid
warriors, while they themselves were left for dogs and all manner of
carrion birds to feast on, as the will of Zeus went driving toward its
goal; start your song from the moment when the two first stood face
to face in open strife – Agamemnon, lord of men, and godlike Achilles.
- Translated by Joe Sachs 2018

Goddess, sing the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, which brought countless woes to the Achaeans and sent the souls of many brave heroes to Hades, their bodies made into a feast for dogs and crows all to carry out the unfathomable will of Zeus. Begin from the first time when they first quarreled: the warrior king, son of Atreus, and godlike Achilles.
- Translated by Michael Heumann 2021


===============================

There are so many lesser-known translations that they cannot fit in this review. However, they are worth searching for. Most nowadays are just OCR reprints.

You will find that some translations are easier to read but others are easier to listen to on recordings, lectures, Kindle, and the like. If you do not see information on specific translators, it is still worth the speculation and purchase. Right after the translation readability and understanding, do not overlook the introduction which gives an insight into what you are about to read.

The Stephen Mitchell translation goes through each of the major characters so well that you think you know them before you start reading. Other introductions explain the struggle between different types of power. Rodney Merrill's 28-page introduction focuses on singing.

The Peter Green translation is easy to read. It is almost a transliteration. However, it is all the scholarly supplemental information that gives worth to his contribution.

The Oxford University Press Barry B. Powell has an extensive introduction with real "MAPS". Also, there is the information of the finder Schliemann. We even get annotations on the meaning being conveyed.

The Caroline Alexander Translation is most excellent for a first translation reading. While other translations rely so much on being scholarly, her translation with plenty of white space makes you feel that you are partaking in listening in awe. The only thing missing is the background music.

Our story takes place in the ninth year of the ongoing war. We get some introduction to the first nine years but they are just a background to this tale of pride, sorrow, and revenge. The story will also end abruptly before the end of the war.

We have a wide conflict between the Trojans and Achaeans over a matter of pride; the gods get to take sides and many times direct spears and shields.

Although the more focused conflict is the power struggle between two different types of power. That of Achilles, son of Peleus and the greatest individual warrior, and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, whose power comes from the position.

We are treated to a blow-by-blow inside story as to what each is thinking and an unvarnished description of the perils of war and the search for Arête (to be more like Aries, God of War.)

Next before reading the Odyssey, you will want to bridge the gap with “The War at Troy: What Homer Didn't Tell” by Quintus of Smyrna.