We know war is filled with sorrow and loss. And yet, we turn to books, films, and relics of war to remind ourselves of the human potential for heroism. Homer’s Iliad, a myth, is among the most unforgettable tales of war, and its heroes — Achilles, Hector, Odysseus — become real the moment we hear their names. 

Unlike Star Wars, there is no digital finesse to the horror of the Trojan War, no special effect to smooth over the aggression of close combat. You won’t find a heartwarming anecdote about teamwork or doing the right thing when the going gets tough, or about patriotism and loving your country so much you’ll die for it. Instead, you confront fundamental truths, including that war is brutal; it’s real blood and real bones. In the world of The Iliad, what had been a talking, living man can, in an instant, become merely a thing — more like a stone than someone’s father or son.

The poem’s greatness lies in its simplicity — how we kill and, more importantly, why we kill.