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 2 in its entirety, all in Ancient Greek. We will pay special attention to the particularities of Homeric language as we read about the misleading dream Zeus sends to Agamemnon, the Achaeans’ shameful retreat to the ships, Odysseus’ speech calling them to remain steadfast, and the (in)famous Catalogue of the Ships – a long poetic list of the cities and kings who have contributed men and arms to the Achaean cause, and which many scholars believe constitutes the very oldest kernel of Greek in the Iliad. This is the second 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 Jan. 4, 2026 – Apr. 11, 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
