Homer
The Iliad

a new translation
by
Ian Johnston
Malaspina University-College
Nanaimo, BC
Canada

This translation is dedicated to my son Geoffrey (1974-1997) and to my grandson Fabian (b. 1992)

Generations of men are like the leaves.  
In winter, winds blow them down to earth, 
but then, when spring season comes again, 
budding wood grows more.  And so with men--
one generation grows, another dies away.  (Iliad 6.181-5)

[This entire translation is in the public domain and may be used, in whole or in part, without charge and without permission, so long as the source is acknowledged.  For comments, questions, suggestions for improvements, please contact Ian Johnston]

Translator's Note   
Glossary and Index for the Iliad  
List of the Deaths in the Iliad

Book 1: The Quarrel by the Ships   
Book 2: Agamemnon's Dream and The Catalogue of Ships   
Book 3: Paris, Menelaus, and Helen    
Book 4: The Armies Clash   
Book 5: Diomedes Goes to Battle   
Book 6: Hector and Andromache   
Book 7: Hector and Ajax   
Book 8: The Trojans Have Success   
Book 9: Peace Offerings to Achilles   
Book 10: A Night Raid   
Book 11: The Achaeans Face Disaster   
Book 12: The Fight at the Barricade   
Book 13: The Trojans Attack the Ships   
Book 14: Zeus Deceived   
Book 15: Battle at the Ships   
Book 16: Patroclus Fights and Dies   
Book 17: The Fight Over Patroclus   
Book 18: The Arms of Achilles   
Book 19: Achilles and Agamemnon  
Book 20: Achilles Returns to Battle
Book 21: Achilles Fights the River  
Book 22: The Death of Hector
Book 23: The Funeral Games for Patroclus
Book 24: Achilles and Priam

Translator's Note
[August 11, 2000]

This translation aims to provide an accurate text of The Iliad in a modern English poetic idiom.  It is designed, first and foremost, for those who are reading Homer's poem for the first time.  I welcome any suggestions for improvements in the accuracy and fluency.

This text uses the traditional Latinate spellings and common English equivalents for the Greek names, e.g., Achilles, Clytaemnestra, Achaeans, Menelaus, Hecuba, rather than modern renditions which strive to stay more closely to the Greek: Akhilleus, Klytaimnestra, Akhaians, Menelaos, Hekabe, and so on, with the exception of a very few names of gods--Cronos, Ouranos--and a few others (e.g., Idaios).  And where there is a common English rendition of the name (e.g., Ajax, Troy, Teucer), I have used that.  

As indicated on the title page, this text is in the public domain and may be used by anyone, in whole or in part,  without charge and without permission, provided the source is acknowledged.

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