Plato called Homer “the educator of all Greece.” But Homer is even more than that: the foundation upon which Western literature itself is built. And here is where it all begins: the Iliad, the epic poem of Achilles’ wrath. In this advanced-level seminar, we will read and discuss Book 4 in its entirety, all in Ancient Greek. We will pay special attention to the particularities of Homeric language as we read about the gods’ council on Olympus, where Zeus and Hera bargain over the fate of Troy; Athena’s descent to tempt the archer Pandarus into loosing the arrow that wounds Menelaus and shatters the fragile truce; and the Epipolesis, Agamemnon’s review of the troops as he moves through the ranks, praising some captains and goading others, before the two armies finally crash together and the first blood of the war is spilled.
Course details:
- Sessions last 1.5 hours
- 1 session per week
- Course lasts 14 weeks
- Term runs Aug. 30, 2026 – Dec. 12, 2026
How ALI courses work:
- ALI courses are live, online classes run by ALI Ancient Greek professors. Learn Ancient Greek from anywhere.
- Classes run on a trimester basis.
- Fall: September – December
- Spring: January – April
- Summer: May – August
- We want to make sure you’re completely satisfied. If you don’t love your first Ancient Greek class, we guarantee a 100% refund. After that, in weeks 2 – 4, refunds will be made on a pro rata basis, based on however many class sessions you’ve attended. We cannot issue refunds after the fourth week of classes.
- Read more on our FAQ page and check out our academic calendar page to see a more detailed schedule
