About "Troy"

In case you want to have a short look at the content of the Iliad, here is a translation of mine, on the summary found in the 1994 textbook for Iliad classes of the second grade of the Greek secondary school.

At this point, I must declare the Greek letters in the brackets are the names of the equal rhapsody of the Iliad. The number next to the in their equal number and if there is a second number follows, this indicates a specific line in the rhapsody.

"Iliad's subject is the wrath, the fearsly anger of Achilles with Agamemnon, the leader of the expedition and its tragic consequences for the Greeks. The incident described takes part during the beginning of the tenth year of the war. At the beginning of the epic, we watch the conflict between the two heroes. Apollo was the cause o it, as he got angry because Agamemnon offended his priest Chryses and didn't give back his daughter, was arrested by the Achaeans and offered her to Agamemnon as a price. Nine days of plague caused by the god tortured the Greek soldiers. The tenth, Achilles, the bravest man of Achaeans, calls for meeting the arm, where Calhas, the oracle, reveals the cause of the evil. Agamemnon promises to return the daughter but asks in return another honor prize. Achilles talks back to him and Agamemnon threats to take his slave, Briseis. The Greek army watch the scene speechless. Deeply afflicted by the unfair offence, Achilles swears not to fight any more for the ungrateful. Agamemnon takes Briseis. Achilles stays away from the battle with his Myrmidones and sends his mother Thetis to take from Zeus the promise the he'll help Trojans to win Achaeas so as he may be honored and satisfied. The promise is given the 21st day because the gods were away in a journey (A1). The 22nd day, after a misleading urge of Zeus, the Greek army is preparing for battle and the poet find the chance to describe the force of the two armies, Greek and Trojan (B2). Then follows the duel between Menelaus and Paris, who agree by swearing that the winner takes Helen and the treasures Paris have taken from Sparta (Γ3). Trojans breaks the agreement and the war begins again. The Greeks win at first (Δ4, Ε5, part of Ζ6) and Hector, the bravest defender of Troy goes in the city to order his mother to pray to Athena and with this chance, he spokes for a last time to his wife Andromache (Z6). When the battle starts again, he duels with Ajax but none of them can win. The 23rd day both armies buries their victims. The 24th Achaeans build a wall, something that they haven't need for nine whole years, as long as they had Achilles with them (H7). The 25th day begins the battle, where the Greeks are defeated (Θ8). Because of this incident, at night, they send a committee to beg Achilles to come back to battle, but in vain (I9). The same night, Odysseus and Diomides get in Trojans camp to spy. They kill their allay Resus and steal his famous steeds (K10). The 26th day, the battle goes on. At first Agamemnon is winning but then he gets wounded. The Greeks are retreating steadily, the Trojans breaks down the wall and threat to burn the Greek ships. (Λ11, Ο15). Patroclus, Achilles closest friend, convinces him to give him his armor and allow him to help Achaeans with the Myrmidones. Trojans are defeated but Hector kills Patroclus (Π16). Around the dead body, follows a great battle that bravely keeps Ajax. Hector takes and wears Achilles armor (P-17). Achilles hears about his friend death and as he was unarmed he stands and shouts out loudly (Σ18-217). At the hearing of his voice the Trojans retreat and this way Patroclus corpse is saved. At Σ14-240 the day ends. Achilles learns now from his mother that if he kills Hector he's going to die next in a while. Though, he doesn't hesitate at all; he's going to revenge for his friend's death, who lost his life because of his anger, even if he's going to be killed the very same moment. The night from the 26th to the 27th day, the god Hephaestus prepares a new armor for Achilles. (Σ18). The 27th day, Achilles calls the Achaeans and follows the typical reunion with Agamemnon. Achilles' victory comes next and Hector's death. (Y20-X22). The 28th day takes place the burring of Patroclus and the game to his honor. (Ψ23). Twelve days after Hector's death, Priam, the respectful king of Troy comes to beg Achilles to give him back his child's body to burry it. Nine days they are collecting the woods, the tenth they burn the dead and the 11th they burry his bones and build a tomb (Ω24).

The days completed became 51 and the last consequence of the wrath concluded, according to the poetic plan of Homer, as it is given in the preamble of the Iliad."