The Iliad by Homer: Rage, Glory & Why This Ancient Epic Still Hits Hard | Book Review
About this episode
This episode reviews The Iliad, exploring its themes of rage, glory, and the complexities of its characters and narrative.
Most people approach The Iliad expecting the Trojan Horse. Instead, they find something darker: a story about wounded pride, uncontrollable rage, brutal violence and the moment vengeance finally gives way to pity. In this review, I break down Samuel Butler’s translation of Homer’s epic, the feud between Achilles and Agamemnon, Hector’s terrifying presence, the petty interference of the gods, the oral tradition behind the poem, and whether a modern reader should actually tackle this ancient monster of a book. 00:00 — An Ancient Epic in My Hands 00:42 — The Samuel Butler Translation 01:03 — Did Homer Actually Write The Iliad? 02:23 — What Is an Epic Poem? 03:05 — This Is Not the Trojan Horse Story 03:40 — Achilles, Hector and the Gods 04:53 — How This Edition Structures the Story 06:15 — The Core of The Iliad: Rage 07:33 — Achilles Loses Everything 08:19 — The Gods Are Petty as Hell 09:49 — Violence, Nature and Ancient Imagery 11:41 — The Sections I Fast-Read 13:19 — The Power of Oral Storytelling 15:00 — The Brutality of Battle 15:43 — Hector Smashes Through the Gates 17:29 — No Simple Villains, Only Human Beings 18:13 — Honour, Glory and the Heroic Code 19:03 — Should You Read…
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