# The Iliad — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Iliad by Homer.

- [The Iliad](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/the-iliad.md): The Iliad recounts the wrath of Achilles and its devastating consequences during the Trojan War, beginning with Apollo's plague sent upon the Greek army after Agamemnon's refusal to ransom Chryseis. The quarrel between A
- [Book I: The Contention of Achilles and Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-i-the-contention-of-achilles-and-agamemnon.md): Chryses, priest of Apollo, comes to the Greek camp to ransom his daughter Chryseis from Agamemnon, who refuses and insults him. Apollo sends a pestilence upon the Greek army. Achilles calls a council, and the seer Calcha
- [Book II: The Trial of the Army, and Catalogue of the Forces](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-ii-the-trial-of-the-army-and-catalogue-of-the-forces.md): Zeus sends a deceptive dream to Agamemnon, promising immediate victory at Troy. Agamemnon tests the army's loyalty by suggesting retreat, causing a chaotic rush to the ships. Odysseus restores order, punishes the insolen
- [Book III: Single Combat of Menelaus and Paris](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-iii-single-combat-of-menelaus-and-paris.md): Hector proposes a duel between Menelaus and Paris to decide the war, with the winner taking Helen and her wealth. Priam and Helen watch from the walls as the Greek and Trojan armies agree to a truce. The duel begins, but
- [Book IV: The Breaking of the Truce, and the First Battle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-iv-the-breaking-of-the-truce-and-the-first-battle.md): The gods convene on Olympus, and Zeus tests Hera and Athena by suggesting peace. Hera insists on Troy's destruction, and Zeus relents. Athena descends to the battlefield, disguised as Laodocus, and persuades Pandarus to 
- [Book V: The Exploits of Diomed](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-v-the-exploits-of-diomed.md): Diomedes, empowered by Athena, performs great feats in battle, wounding Aeneas and even the goddess Aphrodite. He is healed by Athena after being wounded by Pandarus. The gods intervene directly, with Ares and other deit
- [Book VI: Interviews Between Glaucus and Diomed, and Hector and Andromache](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-vi-interviews-between-glaucus-and-diomed-and-hector-and-andromache.md): The Greeks continue to press the Trojans, with Ajax, Diomed, and others slaying many. Hector is recalled to Troy by Helenus to organize a procession of Trojan matrons to the temple of Minerva (Athena) to seek her favor. 
- [Book VII: The Combat of Hector and Ajax](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-vii-the-combat-of-hector-and-ajax.md): Hector and Paris lead a Trojan assault, killing several Greeks. The gods Apollo and Athena agree to pause the battle and inspire Hector to challenge a Greek champion to single combat. After initial hesitation, Ajax is ch
- [Book VIII: The Second Battle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-viii-the-second-battle.md): Hector, driven by Zeus, pushes the Greeks back to their ships. Agamemnon rallies the Greeks with a speech, and Zeus sends an eagle as a favorable omen. Diomedes and Teucer fight valiantly, but Zeus signals victory for th
- [Book IX: The Embassy to Achilles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-ix-the-embassy-to-achilles.md): Agamemnon proposes abandoning the siege, but Diomed and Nestor oppose him. A council is held, and Ulysses, Ajax, and Phoenix are sent to Achilles to offer reconciliation and rich gifts. Achilles refuses, expressing his d
- [Book X: The Night-Adventure of Diomed and Ulysses](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-x-the-night-adventure-of-diomed-and-ulysses.md): Agamemnon, unable to sleep due to distress over Achilles' obstinacy and the Trojan threat, consults with Menelaus, Nestor, Ulysses, and Diomed. A council is held, and Diomed and Ulysses volunteer to spy on the Trojan cam
- [Book XI: The Third Battle, and Exploits of Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xi-the-third-battle-and-exploits-of-agamemnon.md): Agamemnon leads a fierce assault against the Trojans, slaying many including Priam's sons Isus and Antiphus, and the sons of Antimachus. He is eventually wounded and forced to retreat. Hector, warned by Iris, avoids dire
- [Book XII: The Battle at the Grecian Wall](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xii-the-battle-at-the-grecian-wall.md): The Trojans, following Polydamas' advice, dismount and organize into five columns to storm the Greek wall. Asius rashly charges the gates with his chariot but is repelled by Polypoetes and Leonteus. Sarpedon leads the Ly
- [Book XIII: The Continuation of the Fourth Battle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xiii-the-continuation-of-the-fourth-battle.md): Neptune descends from the sea to aid the Greeks, taking the form of Calchas to rally the Ajaxes and revive Greek morale. Idomeneus performs great feats, killing Orthryoneus, Asius, and Alcathoüs, while Deïphobus retaliat
- [Book XIV: The Fraud Practised on Jupiter by Juno](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xiv-the-fraud-practised-on-jupiter-by-juno.md): Agamemnon, Nestor, Diomed, and Ulysses consult as the Greeks are routed. Agamemnon proposes a night retreat, which Ulysses opposes. The wounded chiefs rally the army. Juno borrows Aphrodite's cestus and seduces Zeus, cau
- [Book XV: The Fifth Battle at the Ships](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xv-the-fifth-battle-at-the-ships.md): Jupiter awakens and, angered by Juno's deception, sends Iris to recall Neptune from aiding the Greeks. Apollo is sent to heal Hector and restore his strength. Hector returns to battle, driving the Greeks back to their sh
- [Book XVI: The Sixth Battle—Death of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xvi-the-sixth-battle-death-of-patroclus.md): Patroclus, moved by the Greek losses, persuades Achilles to let him lead the Myrmidons into battle wearing Achilles' armor. Achilles agrees but warns him not to pursue the Trojans to Troy. Patroclus drives the Trojans ba
- [Book XVII: The Seventh Battle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xvii-the-seventh-battle.md): The Greeks and Trojans fiercely contest for the body of Patroclus. Menelaus kills Euphorbus but retreats before Hector, then returns with Ajax to defend the corpse. Hector dons Achilles' armor taken from Patroclus. Glauc
- [Book XVIII: The Grief of Achilles for the Death of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xviii-the-grief-of-achilles-for-the-death-of-patroclus.md): Achilles learns of Patroclus's death from Antilochus and is overcome with grief. His mother Thetis and the Nereids visit to console him, and he vows to kill Hector despite knowing it will lead to his own death. Thetis pr
- [Book XIX: The Reconciliation of Achilles and Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xix-the-reconciliation-of-achilles-and-agamemnon.md): Thetis delivers divine armor forged by Hephaestus to Achilles. Achilles renounces his feud with Agamemnon in a full assembly, and Agamemnon returns Briseis and offers gifts. Briseis laments Patroclus. Achilles, refusing 
- [Book XX: The Battle of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xx-the-battle-of-the-gods.md): Jupiter permits the gods to join the war. Achilles returns to battle with fury, slaying many Trojans. Aeneas is saved by Neptune, and Hector is rescued by Apollo. The gods themselves engage in conflict, shaking heaven an
- [Book XXI: The Battle in the River Scamander](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxi-the-battle-in-the-river-scamander.md): Achilles continues his rampage against the Trojans, driving them into the River Scamander (Xanthus). The river god, enraged by the corpses choking his waters, rises against Achilles and nearly overwhelms him. With divine
- [Book XXII: The Death of Hector](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxii-the-death-of-hector.md): Hector, despite the pleas of his parents Priam and Hecuba, remains outside the walls of Troy to face Achilles. He initially flees but is deceived by Athena, who appears as his brother Deiphobus, into stopping to fight. A
- [Book XXIII: The Funeral of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxiii-the-funeral-of-patroclus.md): Achilles and the Myrmidons mourn Patroclus, build his funeral pyre, and offer sacrifices including twelve Trojan youths. Patroclus's ghost appears to Achilles in a dream, urging him to hasten the burial. The pyre is lit 
- [Book XXIV: The Body of Hector Recovered](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxiv-the-body-of-hector-recovered.md): The gods convene and decide that Achilles must return Hector's body. Thetis and Iris convey divine messages to Achilles and Priam. Priam, guided by Hermes, visits Achilles' tent by night, ransoms Hector's body with magni

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