Book 18 of the Iliad is an outstanding example of the range and
power of Homeric epic. It describes the reaction of the hero
Achilles to the death of his closest friend, and his decision to
re-enter the conflict even though it means he will lose his own
life. The book also includes the forging of the marvellous shield
for the hero by the smith-god Hephaestus: the images on the shield
are described by the poet in detail, and this description forms the
archetypal ecphrasis, influential on many later writers. In an
extensive introduction, R. B. Rutherford discusses the themes,
style and legacy of the book. The commentary provides line-by-line
guidance for readers at all levels, addressing linguistic detail
and larger questions of interpretation. A substantial appendix
considers the relation between Iliad 18 and the Babylonian Epic of
Gilgamesh, which has been prominent in much recent discussion.
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