The Iliad, by Homer

             The Iliad was an epic poem by the bard or Greek poet, Homer. We do not know much about him, but a fun fact that we think was true is that Homer could have been a blind poet. The Iliad is a true story about the beginning and throughout the Trojan War.

             To begin The Iliad, the prince of Troy, whose name is Paris, went to go visit the king and queen of Greece. The king of Greece’s name was King Menelaus. His wife’s name Queen Helen. Helen was the most beautiful woman in the land, even before she became queen. You see, Menelaus won her over a bunch of other men who wanted to marry her. Before she got married to anyone her father told all the suiters that they would not turn against each other but be happy for the person who won her hand. He made all the men swear this. He also made all the men swear that after she was married and someone stole her, all the suiters would gang up and kill the thief.

            Of course, Prince Paris of Troy kidnaps the beautiful queen of Greece, wife of Menelaus. This started the Trojan War. There were many Greek men that came to fight the Trojans.

             During the war, the Greeks were building something they called the Trojan Horse. This was an enormous, hallow, wooden horse which the Greeks pretended to give as a gift of peace to the Trojans. Then the Greeks sailed “home,” but they just sailed out of sight of the Trojans. The Trojans brought the horse inside the city, and, that night, fell asleep. The Greeks that were inside the horse got out and opened the city gates. The other Greeks, that did not really sail away, came back, went into the city, and pillaged the entire kingdom of the Trojans. They also got their queen back.

           The Iliad is a very exciting story about the Trojan war and how it started. Another great poem by Homer was the Odyssey, and I suggest reading it. I cannot wait for what I will be learning about next!