- 01Achilles’ anger and the cause of the quarrel
- 02Chryses’ ransom plea and Agamemnon’s refusal
- 03Apollo’s plague on the Achaeans
- 01Apollo's plague and Calchas's prophecy
- 02Agamemnon and Achilles quarrel over Briseis
- 03Athena restrains Achilles and Nestor intervenes
- 01Agamemnon and Achilles quarrel over Briseis
- 02Chryseis returned and the army purified
- 03Agamemnon sends for Briseis
- 01Achilles appeals to Thetis
- 02Thetis promises to petition Zeus
- 03Ulysses returns Chryseis and the sacrifice to Apollo
- 04The Achaean fleet resumes its course
- 01Thetis pleads for Achilles
- 02Jove and Juno quarrel over secrets
- 01Jove rebukes Juno and asserts his authority
- 02Vulcan pacifies Juno at the banquet
- 03The gods feast, sing, and retire to their dwellings
The Iliad
Foundational epic on war, honor, and mortality.
24Chapters
130Lessons
390Topics
Certificate of completion included
This course was produced by Cavua from a public-domain text.
Skills this course leaves you with.
- Summarize the major conflicts and turning points in the Iliad
- Identify the main Greek and Trojan heroes and their roles
- Explain key themes such as honor, wrath, fate, and mortality
- Trace the sequence of events across the opening books of the poem
- Interpret how the gods influence the war and human decisions
Curriculum
The full table of contents.
Every chapter, every lesson, every topic — laid out before you enroll. Click any chapter to expand it.
- Chapters
- 24
- Lessons
- 130
- Topics
- 390
- 01Jove's lying dream to Agamemnon
- 02Agamemnon's assembly and deceptive speech
- 03The army's flight and Ulysses restores order
- 01Thersites' abuse of Agamemnon
- 02Ulysses silences Thersites
- 03Ulysses' counsel and the omen at Aulis
- 04Nestor urges battle and division of the host
- 05Agamemnon's reply, sacrifice, and feast
- 01Assembly and arming of the Achaeans
- 02Catalogue of the Boeotians and neighboring contingents
- 03Forces from Phocis, Locris, Euboea, Athens, Argos, and Mycenae
- 01Menelaus, Nestor, and the Arcadian contingents
- 02Epeans, Dulichium, Cephallenians, Aetolians, and Cretans
- 03Rhodes, Syme, the islanders, and Achilles' absent Myrmidons
- 04Protesilaus, Eumelus, and Philoctetes' ships
- 01Danaan contingents and commanders
- 02Achilles absent and the Achaean advance
- 03Iris sent to the Trojans
- 01Hector receives Iris's warning and rallies the Trojans
- 02Trojan and allied contingents assembled at Batieia
- 01Leaders of the Halizoni, Mysians, Phrygians, Meonians, and Carians
- 02Sarpedon and Glaucus lead the Lycians
- 01Paris challenges Menelaus and Hector's rebuke
- 02Proposal of single combat and covenant of peace
- 03Helen summoned to the wall
- 01Helen summoned to the Scaean gates
- 02Priam questions Helen about the Achaean leaders
- 01Helen identifies the Achaean leaders
- 02The oath-offerings and covenant of peace
- 03Paris and Menelaus arm for combat
- 04The opening exchange of spears
- 01Venus rescues Alexandrus from Menelaus
- 02Venus summons Helen to the house
- 03Helen rebukes Alexandrus
- 01Paris reconciles with Helen
- 02Agamemnon demands Helen's return
- 01Jove and Juno's quarrel over Troy
- 01Minerva descends to stir the Trojans
- 02Pandarus is persuaded to shoot Menelaus
- 03Pandarus prepares and looses the arrow
- 04Minerva turns aside the missile
- 01Menelaus’s arrow wound and Agamemnon’s alarm
- 02Talthybius summons Machaon to treat Menelaus
- 01Agamemnon rallies the Achaeans and rebukes the shirkers
- 02Agamemnon praises Idomeneus and the Ajaxes
- 03Agamemnon meets Nestor and Ulysses
- 01Agamemnon rebukes Diomed and Sthenelus
- 02The Achaean and Trojan advance to battle
- 01The opening slaughter of the battle
- 01Diomed’s early rampage and the fall of Trojan champions
- 02Pandarus wounds Diomed and Minerva restores his strength
- 03Aeneas and Pandarus prepare to face Diomed
- 04Pandarus wounds Diomed and Aeneas intervenes
- 05Diomed drives off Venus
- 01Diomed wounds Venus and Apollo shields Aeneas
- 02Venus returns to Olympus and Dione consoles her
- 03Dione recalls gods wounded by mortals
- 01Apollo shields Aeneas and Mars rallies the Trojans
- 02Sarpedon rebukes Hector and the battle is renewed
- 03Agamemnon's exhortation and the deaths of Deicoon, Crethon, and Orsilochus
- 01Menelaus and Antilochus rescue the Achaeans
- 02Hector leads the Trojan counterattack
- 03Ajax and the fall of Amphius
- 04Tlepolemus challenges Sarpedon
- 01Tlepolemus’s taunt and Sarpedon’s reply
- 02The duel and its aftermath
- 03Ulysses, Hector, and the renewed fighting
- 01Juno and Minerva arm for battle
- 02The goddesses appeal to Jove
- 03Descent to Troy and rallying the Argives
- 01Diomed and Minerva confront Mars
- 02Mars wounded and ascends to Olympus
- 01Battlefield slaughter and Menelaus's capture of Adrestus
- 02Hector's rallying of the Trojans and Helenus's counsel
- 03Glaucus and Diomed's challenge and descent into the story of Lycurgus
- 01Bellerophon’s lineage and exile
- 02Bellerophon’s feats in Lycia
- 03Bellerophon’s descendants and Glaucus’s claim
- 04Diomed and Glaucus exchange friendship
- 05Hector returns to Troy and Hecuba’s plea
- 01Hecuba’s offering to Athena
- 02Hector rebukes Paris in his house
- 03Hector and Andromache at the Scaean Gates
- 04Paris arms himself and joins Hector
- 01Hector’s challenge and the truce of night
- 02Ajax’s duel with Hector
- 01Ajax and Hector exchange gifts
- 02Nestor's proposal for the dead and the wall
- 03Trojans debate returning Helen and treasure
- 04Idaeus carries the truce terms to the Achaeans
- 05Burning the dead and building the wall
- 01Wine from Lemnos and the Achaean feast
- 01Jove's council and warning to the gods
- 02Jove's journey to Ida and the armies arm for battle
- 01Zeus tips the battle against the Achaeans
- 02Agamemnon’s appeal and Zeus’s omen
- 03Teucer’s archery and Hector’s counterattack
- 01Juno and Minerva decide to aid the Danaans
- 02Jove forbids the goddesses' intervention
- 03The goddesses return to Olympus in anger
- 04Hector rallies the Trojans at nightfall
- 01Hector's night orders to the Trojans
- 02Trojans prepare campfires and watch
- 01Agamemnon's despair and call to sail home
- 02Diomed's rebuke of Agamemnon
- 03Nestor's counsel on unity and authority
- 01Nestor's call for supper and night watch
- 02Agamemnon's feast and Nestor's appeal to reconcile Achilles
- 03Agamemnon's confession and promised gifts to Achilles
- 01Agamemnon's offer of reconciliation
- 02Nestor selects the embassy to Achilles
- 03The envoys arrive at Achilles' tent
- 01The meal before the embassy
- 02Ulysses' plea and Agamemnon's offers
- 01Ulysses' offer of Agamemnon's gifts
- 02Achilles rejects reconciliation and explains his grievance
- 03Achilles' choice between glory and home
- 04Phoenix pleads with Achilles to stay
- 01Phoenix's account of exile from Hellas
- 02Phoenix's upbringing of Achilles and plea to relent
- 01The Calydonian boar and the feud over its spoil
- 02Meleager’s withdrawal and the plea to return
- 01Achilles refuses the embassy's plea
- 02Ajax's appeal and Achilles' final answer
- 03The envoys return to Agamemnon
- 01Ulysses' report of Achilles' refusal
- 02Diomed's counsel to rest and prepare for battle
- 01Agamemnon's sleepless тревога and decision to seek counsel
- 02Menelaus wakes Agamemnon and is sent to summon Ajax and Idomeneus
- 03Agamemnon and Nestor confer on the night watch
- 01Nestor rouses Ulysses and Diomed
- 02The night watch and council meeting
- 01Nestor's call for a night scout
- 02Diomed and Ulysses arm for the mission
- 03Prayers to Minerva and the night patrol
- 04Hector sends Dolon to spy on the Achaeans
- 01Dolon’s pursuit and capture
- 02Dolon’s confession and interrogation
- 01Dolon reveals the Thracian camp
- 02Dolon is killed and the spoils dedicated to Minerva
- 03Ulysses and Diomed reach Rhesus and the sleeping Thracians
- 01Diomed and Ulysses raid the Thracian camp
- 02Return to the Achaean ships and Nestor’s questions
- 03Horses, spoils, and purification at the camp
- 01Agamemnon arms for battle and the armies engage
- 02Agamemnon’s killing spree and Hector’s restraint
- 01Agamemnon withdraws and Hector rallies the Trojans
- 02Diomed and Ulysses check Hector's advance
- 03Diomed is wounded by Paris and leaves the field
- 01Ulysses stands alone and slays Socus
- 02Ajax and Menelaus rescue Ulysses
- 03Nestor and Idomeneus amid Hector's assault
- 01Ajax Holds the Trojans at the Ships
- 02Eurypylus Rescues Ajax and Is Wounded
- 03Achilles Sends Patroclus to Learn Nestor’s News
- 04Nestor and Machaon Reach the Tents
- 01Hecamede’s feast and Patroclus’s arrival
- 02Nestor’s warning about the wounded Achaeans
- 03Nestor’s youth and the cattle raid in Elis
- 04The war with the Epeans at Thryoessa
- 01Nestor’s warning and advice to Patroclus
- 02Patroclus meets wounded Eurypylus
- 03Eurypylus pleads for healing
- 04Patroclus explains his errand to Achilles
- 01Patroclus treats Eurypylus's wound
- 01The Achaean wall and its eventual destruction
- 02Hector rallies the Trojans at the trench
- 03Polydamas warns against crossing with horses
- 01Polydamas urges the Trojans to fight on foot
- 02Trojans form companies and advance on the ships
- 03Asius attacks the left wing at the gates
- 01Lapithae fighting at the wall
- 02The eagle and blood-red snake omen
- 01Hector rejects Polydamas's omen reading
- 02The Trojans assault the Achaean wall
- 03The two Ajaxes rally the Achaeans
- 01Sarpedon's assault on the wall
- 02Menestheus summons Ajax and Teucer
- 01Ajax and Teucer reinforce Menestheus
- 02Sarpedon’s assault on the battlements
- 03Stalemate at the wall
- 01Hector rallies the Trojans at the wall
- 02Hector hurls the stone and breaks the gates
- 03Hector enters the gateway and the Danaans flee
- 01Neptune rallies the Achaeans
- 02Hector's assault at the ships
- 01Neptune’s encouragement of Idomeneus
- 02Idomeneus and Meriones join the left wing
- 03Idomeneus’ killing of Trojan champions
- 04Aeneas and Idomeneus rally their comrades
- 05Close combat over Alcathous’s body
- 06Ascalaphus wounded and Deiphobus rescued
- 07Aeneas kills Aphareus and Antilochus wounds Thoon
- 01Antilochus, Meriones, and Helenus in the melee
- 02Menelaus kills Pisander and Harpalion
- 03Paris avenges Harpalion; Hector remains unaware
- 01Hector's assault on the ships
- 02Polydamas urges a council of war
- 03Hector summons the Trojan chieftains
- 01Hector rebukes Paris and rallies the Trojans
- 02Hector and Ajax exchange battlefield taunts
- 01Nestor surveys the rout at the ships
- 02Agamemnon urges retreat by sea
- 03Ulysses rebukes the retreat proposal
- 04Diomed proposes wounded leaders return to battle
- 01Venus lends Juno the girdle of charms
- 02Juno plots to deceive Jupiter
- 03Juno enlists Sleep against Jupiter
- 04Jupiter’s desire and Juno’s final ruse
- 01Neptune rallies the Achaeans
- 02Ajax wounds Hector and the Trojans rescue him
- 03The Achaean counterattack after Hector falls
- 01Jove rebukes Juno and sends Iris and Apollo
- 02Juno reports to Olympus and the gods react
- 01Jove orders Neptune to withdraw
- 02Apollo revives Hector and renews the assault
- 01Hector’s return and the Achaean retreat
- 02Apollo leads the Trojan assault
- 03Scattered killing in the battle
- 04Trojans breach the wall and press to the ships
- 05Nestor’s prayer and Patroclus departs
- 01Ajax and Hector at the ship
- 02Teucer’s arrows and Hector’s rallying cry
- 03Close combat and fresh casualties
- 01Antilochus kills Melanippus
- 02Hector's assault on the ships
- 03The Achaeans rally at the ships
- 01Hector seizes the stern of Protesilaus's ship
- 02Ajax defends the ships and rallies the Danaans
- 01Patroclus pleads for the Achaeans
- 02Achilles yields his armour and warns Patroclus
- 03Ajax falls back and the ship is fired
- 01Patroclus arms himself for battle
- 02Achilles deploys the Myrmidons
- 03Achilles prays for Patroclus' success
- 01Patroclus rallies the Myrmidons and breaks the Trojan line
- 02The Danaan counterattack and scattered duels
- 03Patroclus drives the Trojans back toward the city
- 04Sarpedon challenges Patroclus and Zeus debates his fate
- 01Sarpedon’s death in battle
- 02Glaucus prays to Apollo for healing
- 01The Trojans and Achaeans fight over Sarpedon's body
- 02Zeus orders Sarpedon's burial rites
- 01Apollo rescues Sarpedon and Patroclus advances
- 02Fight over Cebriones and Patroclus’s fall
- 01Hector kills Patroclus
- 02Patroclus's dying prophecy and Hector's reply
- 03Hector strips the spear from the body and pursues Automedon
- 01Menelaus guards Patroclus's body
- 02Euphorbus challenges Menelaus
- 03Menelaus kills Euphorbus and strips his armour
- 01Menelaus yields Patroclus's body
- 02Ajax shields the corpse
- 03Glaucus rebukes Hector
- 04Hector dons Achilles' armour
- 01Hector's call to seize Patroclus
- 02Ajax and the Achaean defense of the body
- 03Aeneas renews the Trojan assault
- 04The all-day struggle around Patroclus
- 01Automedon takes up the fight
- 02Aretus slain and Athena rouses the Danaans
- 01Apollo incites Hector
- 02Zeus turns the battle for Troy
- 03Greek leaders seek help from Achilles
- 01Menelaus seeks Antilochus and sends him to Achilles
- 02Rescuing Patroclus's body from the Trojans
- 01Menelaus and Meriones carry Patroclus from the field
- 02The two Ajaxes hold the Trojans at bay
- 01Achilles learns of Patroclus's death
- 02Thetis mourns and promises new armour
- 03Iris urges Achilles into battle
- 04Achilles terrifies the Trojans and Patroclus is recovered
- 05Polydamas counsels the Trojans to retreat
- 06Hector rejects Polydamas's counsel
- 07Achilles mourns Patroclus and vows revenge
- 08Patroclus's washing and burial preparations
- 01Thetis visits Vulcan and asks for new armour
- 02The Shield of Achilles and its scenes
- 01Herd of horned cattle
- 02Pasture, sheepfolds, and homestead
- 03The dancing green of youths and maidens
- 04Oceanus and Achilles' armour
- 01Thetis brings Vulcan's armour to Achilles
- 02Achilles summons the Achaean assembly and reconciles with Agamemnon
- 01Agamemnon’s confession and atonement
- 02Ulysses’ counsel on food, oath, and reconciliation
- 01Agamemnon’s oath over Briseis
- 02The gifts are brought to Achilles
- 03Briseis laments Patroclus
- 01Achilles refuses food in grief for Patroclus
- 02Athena strengthens Achilles and the armor is donned
- 03Achilles arms his chariot and Xanthus foretells his death
- 01Council of the gods on Olympus
- 02The gods choose sides in battle
- 03Achilles’ terror among the Trojans
- 01Divine battle lines and Apollo’s urging of Aeneas
- 02Achilles and Aeneas exchange boasts and genealogies
- 03Neptune rescues Aeneas from Achilles
- 01Achilles rallies the Achaeans and Hector answers
- 02Achilles' slaughter of Trojan warriors
- 03The battlefield compared to fire and threshing
- 01Achilles slaughters the Trojans in the Xanthus
- 02Lycaon begs for mercy and is killed
- 03Asteropaeus challenges Achilles
- 04Scamander rises against Achilles
- 05Achilles rescued by Neptune and Minerva
- 06Scamander calls on Simois and attacks Achilles
- 07Juno summons Vulcan to fight the river
- 01Xanthus yields to Vulcan's fire
- 02The gods turn on one another
- 03Mars and Minerva; Venus and Neptune
- 04Apollo, Diana, and Juno's challenge
- 01Apollo and the gods withdraw to Olympus
- 02Priam opens the gates for the fleeing Trojans
- 03Apollo shields Agenor at the city wall
- 01Agenor resolves to face Achilles
- 02The spear exchange and Apollo's rescue
- 03Apollo lures Achilles toward Scamander
- 01Apollo turns Achilles back from the walls
- 02Priam and Hecuba beg Hector to retreat
- 03Hector's final resolve before Achilles
- 01Achilles chases Hector around Troy
- 01Athena deceives Hector into facing Achilles
- 02The spear exchange and Hector’s fatal wound
- 03Hector’s plea, death, and Achilles’ desecration of the body
- 01Priam and Hecuba lament Hector
- 02Andromache learns of Hector's death
- 03Andromache's grief for Hector and Astyanax
- 01Patroclus’s funeral rites and pyre
- 02Funeral games
- 01Prizes for the chariot race
- 02Nestor’s advice to Antilochus
- 03The race begins and Diomed takes the lead
- 04Antilochus’s trick and Menelaus’s protest
- 05Dispute over the finish and Achilles’ judgment
- 06Antilochus claims the mare
- 07Menelaus demands judgment and apology
- 08Menelaus accepts the mare and forgives Antilochus
- 01Nestor receives the urn as a memorial prize
- 02Boxing contest prizes and Epeus's challenge
- 01Euryalus and Epeus in the boxing match
- 02Prizes for the wrestling contest
- 03Ajax and Ulysses wrestle for the tripod
- 01Prizes for the footrace
- 02The race and its outcome
- 03Antilochus’s consolation prize
- 01Ajax and Diomed’s close combat
- 02The massive iron quoit contest
- 03Archery prize for the axes
- 01Javelin prize and Achilles' award
- 01Achilles’ grief for Patroclus
- 02Desecration of Hector’s body
- 03Apollo’s rebuke of the gods
- 01Juno’s complaint and Jove’s decree
- 02Iris summons Thetis to Olympus
- 03Thetis receives Jove’s message for Achilles and Priam
- 01Iris brings Zeus’s command to Priam
- 02Priam gathers the ransom and prepares to depart
- 03Hecuba’s warning and Priam’s prayer for an omen
- 01Mercury sent to guide Priam
- 02Priam and Mercury at the river
- 03Mercury’s account of Hector
- 04Priam learns Hector still lies unspoiled
- 05The ransom and safe passage to Achilles’ hut
- 01Priam's plea for Hector's body
- 02Achilles' grief and the urns of Zeus
- 01Priam's ransom and Achilles' surrender of Hector
- 02The meal, Niobe's example, and the funeral truce
- 01Priam’s return with Hector’s body
- 02Lamentations at the city gates
- 03Andromache, Hecuba, and Helen’s mourning
- 04The funeral pyre and burial of Hector
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