So if I understand the schedule correctly discussion is now open for Books 1 through 18. I appreciate Issybird's previous summary of Books 1-6, and then Books 7-12. I also have been enjoying the frequent use of simile. The truth is I find that these surely help lighten what is after all a whole lot of nothing but fighting and killing.

Sometimes this similes are very poetic as in this case:

At other times they seem rather odd as in this example:

And speaking of killings this or something similar certainly appears often:

Though this may be more another epithet frequently used to provide proper structure to lines of prose.

The mention of armor raises a subject that I have been curious about. The consensus seems to be that Homer lived and wrote the Iliad in the 8th Century BC. However, he was writing about events dating about 400 years before his time, circa the 12th Century BC. The Bronze Age in the areas of interest runs from around 3300 to 600 BC while the early Iron Age (Bronze Age collapse) runs from about 1300 to 600 BC. I mention this because in the Iliad the weapons and armor are generally described as being of bronze, though there are occasional references to iron weapons. So I wonder if this is an accurate reflection of history and if at the time of the events of the Iliad iron weapons and armor were still rare, difficult to obtain, and perhaps costly? Also both weapons and armor are frequently described as also including gold and silver, and not just as ornamentation but in functional capacity. To me it seems that use of theses soft metals would make the armor and weapons ostentatious stuff appropriate for ceremony and the parade ground, not something one would take into a real fight.

This sort of armor decorated with precious metals could explain how much fighting goes on over stripping dead enemy of their armor. Or perhaps this is about trophy collection to take home as evidence of ones participation and success in the war? Much like a hunter around here might pay a taxidermist to preserve the head of a six point buck shot during hunting season?


In addition to the poetic similes to provide some relief from all the fighting and killing, that was in truth getting a bit repetitive, I loved the story of how Hera seduced Zeus into having sex with her, and then a nice post coital nap, in order to keep his attention away from the fact that Poseidon was intervening on behalf of the Achaians. Then when Zeus awakens and discovers her ploy she manages to sweet talk him out of being angry with her, or punishing her. Just like a woman, and a man.

One other thin I have noticed is how personalized the tide of war is cast as. I suppose this is standard for all such epics, but when one great warrior goes on a rampage of success in killing it almost always means that his side is overwhelming the other. The Achaians have a number of such figure the most important including Agamemnon, Menelaus, Aias, Diomedes, Odysseus, and of course Achilleus. The Trojans are represented in this manner by Hektor, and, will pretty much just Hektor. It makes me wonder if only the Achaians could have some how for love or money induced Hektor to switch sides, or even just withdraw from the fighting, years and many lives could have been save.

So to respond to Issybird's latest query I have completed through Book 18. Achilleus in anger and grief over the slaying of Patroklos has now decided to return to the battle. I suspect things are about to look grim for the Trojans.