About the author
Homer is the name traditionally given to the ancient Greek poet of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Almost nothing secure is known about the poet's life, and modern scholarship continues to examine how long oral traditions, performance, and written composition shaped the epics that survive.
The Iliad concentrates on Achilles' anger during the Trojan War; the Odyssey follows Odysseus' return to Ithaca. Their language, characters, and narrative structures became foundational for Greek education and for later literature across many languages.
Where to start
Start with the Odyssey for travel, storytelling, and homecoming, or the Iliad for war, anger, and mortality. Comparing modern translations reveals how much rhythm and interpretation shape each reading.
