The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem that depicts the adventures of Achilles, composed by Homer. It is one of the eldest surviving works of literature and still extensively read by contemporary audiences. Excerpt: "Achilles scowled at him and answered, "You are steeped in insolence and lust of gain. With what heart can any of the Achaeans do your bidding, either on foray or in open fighting? I came not warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me. I have no quarrel with them. They have not raided my cattle nor my horses, nor cut down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia; for between me and them there is a great space, both mountain and sounding sea. We have followed you, Sir Insolence! for your pleasure, not ours—to gain satisfaction from the Trojans for your shameless self and for Menelaus. You forget this, and threaten to rob me of the prize for which I have toiled, and which the sons of the Achaeans have given me. Never when the Achaeans sack any rich city of the Trojans do I receive so good a prize as you do, though it is my hands that do the better part of the fighting. When the sharing comes, your share is far the largest, and I, forsooth, must go back to my ships, take what I can get and be thankful, when my labour of fighting is done. Now, therefore, I shall go back to Phthia; it will be much better for me to return home with my ships, for I will not stay here dishonoured to gather gold and substance for you."

Homer is a monumental figure in ancient Greek literature, often revered as one of the greatest poets in Western history. His literary career is most famously associated with two epic poems, 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey', both cornerstones of Ancient Greek literature and essential texts in the canon of Western literature. 'The Iliad' specifically delineates with exquisite poetry, the final weeks of the Trojan War, a pivotal event in Greek mythology. Homer's work is characterized by its grandeur of theme, swift action, noble characters, and a style both simple and direct. However, little is known for certain about the life of Homer, including his historical existence. The exact dates of his life are also subject to debate, with estimates placing him in the 8th to 7th century BC. Scholarship typically portrays Homer as a bard from Ionia, the Greek-coastal region of Anatolia. His literary style, often described as oral-formulaic, suggests he likely worked with oral traditions, composing his poems through mnemonic devices and repetitive phrases to aid in performance. Due to the epic's ancient origins, the extent to which Homer may have been a single author or a synthesis of generational storytelling traditions is still discussed. Nonetheless, the works attributed to him have exercised a profound influence on Western literature and continue to be studied for their literary merit, cultural significance, and insights into ancient Greek society.