- 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
by Homer · c. 750 BCE · 24 chapters · 24/7 tutor
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
About The Iliad.
Read the Iliad as the story of one man's anger, not of the whole Trojan War: it covers a few weeks in the war's tenth year, from Achilles' quarrel with Agamemnon to Hector's funeral. Go one book at a time, skim the catalogs, slow down for Books 1, 6, 9, 16, 22 and 24, where the plot turns, and keep asking who is responsible for each death. This Iliad study guide maps the 24 books, the main themes and characters, and how to choose a translation.
The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer and usually dated to the eighth century BCE, which makes it one of the oldest surviving works of European literature. It runs to about 15,700 lines of dactylic hexameter and came out of a long tradition of oral poetry, which is why it repeats phrases, stock scenes and even whole speeches. Its title means the poem of Ilion, another name for Troy.
Despite its reputation, it is not the story of the Trojan War. It covers a few weeks in the war's tenth year, and its subject is the anger of Achilles: his quarrel with Agamemnon, his withdrawal from battle and the chain of deaths that follows. The wooden horse never appears, Troy does not fall, and Achilles' own death is foretold but not shown.
Readers return to it because it looks at war without looking away, and its last book turns not on a victory but on two enemies weeping together. If you have read the Odyssey, Homer's poem of homecoming, this is the earlier and darker work; the guide to starting the great books shows where it fits in a wider reading list.
What the book is really about.
Each theme below comes with the scenes that show it, to test against the text yourself.
Questions to ask as you read.
- 1Is Achilles right to withdraw in Book 1? Does your answer change after he rejects the embassy in Book 9?
- 2What does his refusal of Agamemnon's gifts suggest about the warrior code of honor?
- 3Why does the poem give so much space to Hector's family in Book 6?
- 4Who is responsible for Patroclus's death: Hector, Apollo, Achilles, or Patroclus himself?
- 5How do the gods compare with the humans in seriousness and dignity?
- 6What is the shield of Achilles doing in Book 18, in the middle of a war poem?
- 7How is Helen presented? Does she blame herself, and does the poem blame her?
- 8Why does Achilles mistreat Hector's body, and why do the gods step in?
- 9Why end with Hector's funeral rather than the fall of Troy or Achilles' death?
- 10Does the Iliad glorify war, mourn it, or both?
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
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01How many chapters are in the Iliad course?
The Iliad course has 24 chapters, each with its own lessons and topics.
02How many lessons are in the Iliad course?
There are 130 lessons across the course, and you can ask your 24/7 tutor about any of them.
03Can I see what the Iliad course covers before I start?
Yes. The full curriculum is listed on this page, beginning with "BOOK I".
04Do I get a certificate for the Iliad course?
Yes. Finishing the course earns a personal Cavua certificate of completion.
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