The Prolegomena provide an introduction to a better understanding of Homer's text itself and the manner of commentary on it. Contents: On the history of commentaries on the Iliad (Latacz) a " History of the text (West) a " Formulaic language and oral tradition (Latacz)a " Grammar (Wachter) a " Metre (NA1/4nlist) a " Actors (Graf/Stoevesandt) a " Plot and chronological structure with diagrams (Latacz) a " narrative technique (de Jong/NA1/4nlist) a " Index of Mycenaean words in the Iliad, with brief explanations (Wachter). The third edition has been fully re-edited and contains an up-to-date bibliography.