The present volume is a critical introduction to Homer's Iliad, the earliest known literary work of Ancient Greece. Michael Silk, professor of ancient Greek language and literature at King's College, University of London, examines the historical context of the epic, its composition, and its extensive influence, relating its literary power to its unique coherence and the interaction of its elements, such as its style, characterization, and ideology. With the help of quotations from the original accompanied by translation, he closely follows the characteristic texture of Homeric poetry. This revised edition takes into account recent relevant scientific publications and includes an updated bibliography. It is an essential reading for students of literature and classical studies.