The Iliad and the Odyssey

The <i>Iliad</i> and the <i>Odyssey</i>, traditionally attributed to Homer, are two epic poems that are the foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Each poem is divided into 24 books. The <i>Iliad</i> is set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Mycenaean Greek kingdoms. It focuses on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles lasting a few weeks during the last year of the war. The <i>Odyssey</i> focuses on the ten-year journey home of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, after the fall of Troy. His journey lasted for ten additional years, during which time he encountered many perils. The <i>Iliad</i> and the <i>Odyssey</i> are among the oldest extant works of Western literature still read by contemporary audiences.