what can you say about Homer's Iliad?

Answer 1

The Iliad is set in the final year of the Trojan War, fought between the Greeks and the inhabitants of the city of Troy. The legendary conflict forms the background for the central plot of the story: the wrath of the Greek hero Achilles. Insulted by his commander in chief, Agamemnon, the young warrior Achilles withdraws from the war, leaving his fellow Greeks to suffer terrible defeats at the hands of the Trojans. Achilles rejects the Greeks' attempts at reconciliation but finally relents to some extent, allowing his companion Patroclus to lead his troops in his place. Patroclus is slain, and Achilles, filled with fury and remorse, turns his wrath against the Trojans, whose leader, Hector (son of King Priam), he kills in single combat. The poem closes as Achilles surrenders the corpse of Hector to Priam for burial, recognizing a certain kinship with the Trojan king as they both face the tragedies of mortality and bereavement.

Answer 2

If this is a term paper type question best to just look on answers or do a search engine search. Strange I couldn't find out what Iliad actually means. You have the twin book, The Odyssey. We know Odyssey now means protracted journey with interesting adventures along the way.
I have been to Mistra in the Peloponesis (sp). It is v. near Sparta and is the site of the burial tombs of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. For the latter we are talking 1200 B.C. which corresponds to the Flight from Egypt. Troy if I am not mistaken was discovered by Schliemann and is located near Ankara.
Homer was supposedly blind and may have actually been a female poet. There was a strong tradition of female poetry in Greece (eg Sappho). And the mystery religions that people were fond of in those parts were run by Sybils and high priestesses. I think the Oracle at Parnassus was staffed by women.

Answer 3

Its always difficult to get an accurate opinion on subject which is wrapped in myths and legends, especially one as ancient as the Trojan war. However in Homer's defense, he was primarily a storyteller', and therefore the very fact that we are even discussing this over 2,500 years after his death is a testimony to the man.

Whilst were on the subject, The 2004 Troy film was pretty poor. I mean Brad Pitt/Achilles, come on!!!. The plot was also dire. Apart from the characters names, and the fact they put a wooden horse on the beach, it was one of the most inaccurate film's id seen since that WWII submarine film with that guy from under siege..... Tommy Lee Jones i think but dont quote me on