Definition

Proper noun 1. A classical Greek epic poem: A long narrative poem in ancient Greek literature, traditionally attributed to the poet Homer. It is one of the foundational works of Western literature. 2. The story of the Trojan War: The poem specifically recounts events during the final year of the siege of the city of Troy (Ilium) by a coalition of Greek states, focusing on the wrath of the hero Achilles.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • We studied the Iliad in my classical literature course.
  • The Iliad begins with the line, "Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus."
  • Many characters in the Iliad, like Hector and Agamemnon, are central to the plot.

Advanced Usage

• "Homeric epics": Refers collectively to the and the , both attributed to Homer.
  • The Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, were composed in dactylic hexameter.
• "Iliadic" (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of the .
  • The film attempted an Iliadic portrayal of the hero's rage and glory.

Variants and Related Words

• Homeric (adj): Of, relating to, or characteristic of Homer, his works, or the legends and style he used.
• Epic (n): A long narrative poem, typically detailing heroic deeds and events significant to a culture.
• Trojan War (n): The legendary ten-year war between the Greeks and the people of Troy, which forms the backdrop of the .

Synonyms

• Epic poem
• Homeric epic

Related Phrases and Concepts

• "The wrath of Achilles": The central theme and driving force of the 's plot.
  • The Iliad is fundamentally about the destructive consequences of the wrath of Achilles.
• "Achilles' heel": A modern idiom derived from a later part of the Trojan War myth (not directly from the ), meaning a point of vulnerability.
• "Trojan horse": A stratagem from the end of the Trojan War, famously described in Virgil's , not the . The concludes before this event.

Noun

1. a Greek epic poem (attributed to Homer) describing the siege of Troy