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Historicity of the Iliad
[[Image:Rubens Greek gods.jpg|thumb|Rubens, Greek gods]]
[[Image:Rubens Greek gods.jpg|thumb|Rubens, Greek gods]]
'''The Iliad''' is an epic poem written by [[Homer]], the legendary blind [[Greece|Greek]] poet, in the 8th century B.C. The poem is about the [[Trojan War]] (''Ilium'' being the Latin name of [[Troy]]). The siege of Troy is believed to have taken place in 1184 B.C.<ref>The Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy & Dupuy, 1979</ref>
'''The Iliad''' is an epic poem widely believed to have been written by [[Homer]], the legendary blind [[Greece|Greek]] poet, in the 8th century B.C. The poem is about the [[Trojan War]] (''Ilium'' being the Latin name of [[Troy]]). The siege of Troy is believed to have taken place in 1184 B.C.<ref>The Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy & Dupuy, 1979</ref>
''The Iliad'' was revered by Greeks and all who followed in the Greek legacy, attempting to emulate it. It received something on the order of [[Biblical]] significance by later Greeks, seeking to define the prime values of their culture - honor, and valor. [[Alexander the Great]] is said to have slept with a copy of ''The Iliad'' under his bed, and claimed to be a descendant of the Greek warrior [[Achilles]].
''The Iliad'' was revered by Greeks and all who followed in the Greek legacy, attempting to emulate it. It received something on the order of [[Biblical]] significance by later Greeks, seeking to define the prime values of their culture - honor, and valor. [[Alexander the Great]] is said to have slept with a copy of ''The Iliad'' under his bed, and claimed to be a descendant of the Greek warrior [[Achilles]].
Modern readers seeking an account of the Trojan War may be surprised to find that the most famous episode - the Trojan Horse - does not feature in the Iliad at all. Instead the poem concentrates on the in-fighting between the rival Greek kings Achilles and Agammemnon.
Modern readers seeking an account of the Trojan War may be surprised to find that the most famous episode - the Trojan Horse - does not feature in the Iliad at all. Instead the poem concentrates on the in-fighting between the rival Greek kings Achilles and Agammemnon.
== Historicity ==
There is widespread debate over the historicity of the Iliad. Important questions in this debate include:
* Was the Iliad written by one man (the alleged Homer), or by many people over generations?
* Was the Iliad constructed orally before being written down?
* Are the events in the Iliad at least loosely based on history, or is it entirely mythological?
* Were some portions of the Iliad written before others?
* Were the characters in the Iliad based on real people?
== See also ==
== See also ==