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A Companion to The Iliad

Those who are able to read Homer in Greek have ample recourse to commentaries, but the vast majority who read the Iliad in translation have not been so well served—the many available translations contain few, if any, notes. For these readers, Malcolm M. Willcock provides a line-by-line commentary that explains the many factual details, mythological allusions, and Homeric conventions that a student or general reader could not be expected to bring to an initial encounter with the Iliad.
 
The notes, which always relate to particular lines in the text, have as their prime aim the simple, factual explanation of things the inexperienced reader would be unlikely to have at his or her command (What is a hecatomb? Who is Atreus’ son?). Second, they enhance an appreciation of the Iliad by illuminating epic style, Homer’s methods of composition, the structure of the work, and the characterization of the major heroes. The "Homeric Question," concerning the origin and authorship of the Iliad, is also discussed.

Professor Willcock’s commentary is based on Richmond Lattimore’s translation—regarded by many as the outstanding translation of the present generation—but it may be used profitably with other versions as well. This clearly written commentary, which includes an excellent select bibliography, will make one of the touchstones of Western literature accessible to a wider audience.

302 pages | 5-1/4 x 8 | © 1976

Based on the translation by Richmond Lattimore

Ancient Studies

Literature and Literary Criticism: Classical Languages

Table of Contents

List of Figures
Preface
Book One
Book Two
Book Three
Book Four
Book Five
Book Six
Book Seven
Book Eight
Book Nine
Book Ten
Book Eleven
Book Twelve
Book Thirteen
Book Fourteen
Book Fifteen
Book Sixteen
Book Seventeen
Book Eighteen
Book Nineteen
Book Twenty
Book Twenty-One
Book Twenty-Two
Book Twenty-Three
Book Twenty-Four
Appendix A: Transmission of the Tex of the Iliad and Commentaries on It
Appendix B: Methods of Fighting in the Iliad
Appendix C: Mythology and the Gods
Appendix D: The "Aithiopis Theory"
Bibliography
Index

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