The War at Troy: What Homer Didn't Tell

FROM OUR EDITORS

Although it deals in part with the Trojan War, Homer's Iliad ends with Achilles still alive and Troy uncaptured; on the opposite end of the spectrum, his Odyssey begins with the Greeks leaving Troy. Since everyone in Homer's time was familiar with the story, the omission of the events in the middle caused no problem. However, as centuries passed and details faded, something was needed to fill the gap. And so, in the third century A.D. Quintus of Smyrna wrote his chronicle—a connected account of the events of the Trojan War occurring between the death of Hector and the departure of the Greeks—including such important incidents as the death of Achilles; the contest between Odysseus and Ajax for the armor of Achilles; the death of Paris; the wooden horse; and the capture and sack of Troy. This lively prose translation by Frederick M. Combellack includes notes & an introduction.

FROM THE CRITICS

Saturday Review of Literature