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: Book 1 of the Iliad, the epic poem of Achilles’ wrath. In this advanced-level seminar, we will read and discuss Book 1 in its entirety, all in Ancient Greek. We will pay special attention to the particularities of Homeric language as we read about Apollo’s plague on the Achaeans camped outside Troy, the return of Chryseis, and where the real trouble all begins: Agamemnon taking the girl Briseis from Achilles. This is the first course in a 48-course sequence covering each book of Homer’s epics.
Course details:
- Sessions last 1.5 hours
- 1 session per week
- Course lasts 14 weeks
- Term runs Aug. 31, 2025 – Dec. 13, 2025
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
