Iliad, The

Homer is known to have authored the first known literature of Europe. He is revered as one of the greatest of the ancient Greek epic poets in the Western classical tradition, and is credited with the enduring epic tales of The Illiad and The Odyssey. Though when he lived is not known, it is estimated by Herodotus, a Greek historian, that Homer lived around 400 years before his own time. Through vividly portrayed characters and memorable descriptions of battles, Homer has glorified war in The Iliad. He also seems to hold up with the notion that the victory of military values overrides family life. Amidst everything else, Homer reminds the readers of the impermanence of mortals and their creations. The Iliad, written in dactylic or heroic hexameter, is among the oldest extant works of Western literature. Nearly all editions—ancient, modern, and translations—are divided into twenty-four books. It continues to remain a rare classic with an extremely captivating lyrical beauty.