Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey

The Iliad is an epic poem that captures the rivalry between Achilles’ rage and Hector’s piety. In this foundational work of Western literature, Homer explores timeless themes such as war, mortality, camaraderie, divine providence, wartime politics, and piety. Homer proves to be a masterful storyteller, offering compelling characters, sharp humor, and a rich plot woven through the contrasting narratives of brutal battlefield action and political scheming—both among the Greeks and Trojans, and even among the gods themselves. Through the main plot-the rivalry of Achilles and Hector-The Iliad meditates on piety-loyalty God, country, & family. Achilles sacrifices the lives of his comrades—and ultimately his own sense of humanity—in pursuit of personal glory and vengeance. However, Achilles is a valuable story on what drives a warfighter to lose his humanity & commit horrible acts. The arch that drives his rage is common to what drives most soldiers to go berserk in war. Hector, by contrast, stands as the tragic hero of a doomed city, fighting not for personal acclaim but out of piety to his gods, his country, and his family. Through Hector, Homer presents the image of the righteous man. The Greeks, while victorious, are often portrayed as selfish and impious—except in their outward relationship to the gods. Yet Homer does not shy away from criticizing the gods themselves, highlighting the chaotic, self-serving nature of polytheism. In doing so, he undermines any claim the Greeks might have to a moral high ground based on divine favor. Understand the depth of this book, in a world where history is written by the victor, the victor puts the enemy of the moral high-ground. Reading the Iliad offers not only a deeper appreciation for Western literature and culture but also provides unexpected insight into another ancient text: the Pentateuch of the Bible. Though the Iliad did not influence the Pentateuch, both arise from the late Bronze Age Mediterranean world and grapple with themes of war and divinity. Since the Bronze Age worldview is so distant from our own, the Iliad can help readers understand the cultural backdrop against which many biblical stories unfold. There are striking parallels between Greek and Middle Eastern paganism. For instance, Ba’al and Asherah—common pagan deities mentioned in the Bible—roughly correspond to the Greek gods Zeus and Aphrodite. Studying the Iliad gives readers a window into the religious mindset of Israel’s neighbors, allowing for a better contrast with early Judaism. In the Iliad, the gods manipulate events for the benefit of their favorite mortals, often at the cost of their countrymen and justice itself. In contrast, the biblical narrative of the conquest of Canaan severely punishes self-serving actions that harm the community or deny justice. The Israelites, bound to one God and one law, had a moral framework vastly different from the Greeks, whose many gods could be easily offended and often worked at contradictory purposes. Likewise, while the Greeks waged a war for plunder and personal glory, Israel’s conquest was more modest-focused on securing a small land for survival and peace, with greed beyond that harshly condemned. The Iliad is an entertaining story, and the best introduction to the great works of literature and Western culture. On top of being a story thick with political intrigue and violent combat, it provides a deep reflection of war & loyalty. The value of this book is beyond itself, running before and parallel to the great works that shaped Western culture.

Very good listen! I love how animated the characters' voices are made. 100/10.

nice