
Everything You Need to Know About the Iliad and the Odyssey
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $6.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Colin Fluxman
About this listen
- Explains the major themes, characters, and plots of both epics.
- Includes historic artwork depicting important scenes in The Iliad and The Odyssey.
- Discusses the historical basis of Homer, the Trojan War, and Ancient Greek culture.
"Like leaves on trees the race of man is found, / Now green in youth, now withering on the ground; Another race the following spring supplies: They fall successive, and successive rise." - The Iliad
"Tell me, Muse, of the man of many wiles." - The Odyssey, Book I, Line 1
Perhaps the most famous epic poems ever written, the Iliad and the Odyssey have been read for nearly 3,000 years, making them the oldest written works in the Western world. The poems made characters like Paris, Helen, Odysseus, Achilles, Hector, and Ajax instantly recognizable, and they also influenced other ancient poets like Virgil, whose Aeneid is clearly modeled after them. The epic poems also literally put Troy on the map, motivating Heinrich Schliemann to search for and ultimately find the city of Troy in the 19th century.
Believed to be penned around the seventh or eighth century BC, the Iliad and the Odyssey served as both entertainment and a moral guidebook of sorts for ancient Greeks, as well as the foundation for Western literature. Although there is some scholarly debate regarding the epic's authorship, It is generally attributed to a poet named Homer. Given that he lived nearly 2,800 years ago, not much is actually known about Homer. His birthplace is debated, but due to the dialect of Greek in which the works attributed to him were written, it is generally believed that he lived in Iona. The only other aspect of Homer's life that is generally agreed upon is that he was a blind poet, possibly also a bard. That naturally raises the question of how he wrote his epic poetry, but scholars assume he probably dictated them to a scribe, as the format suggests they were comprised from various shorter forms of oral poetry.
©2013 Charles River Editors (P)2017 Charles River EditorsListeners also enjoyed...
-
The Inferno
- By: Dante, Robert Hollander - translator, Jean Hollander - translator
- Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
- Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The epic grandeur of Dante's masterpiece has inspired readers and listeners for 700 years and has entered the human imagination. But the further we move from the late medieval world of Dante, the more a rich understanding and enjoyment of the poem depends on knowledgeable guidance.
-
-
Into Hell
- By Adam on 10-25-19
By: Dante, and others
-
Mythology
- A Fascinating Guide to Understanding Greek Mythology, Norse Mythology, and Egyptian Mythology
- By: Matt Clayton, Captivating History
- Narrated by: J D Kelly
- Length: 4 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first part of this audiobook will explore Greek heroes, what they were like and what they accomplished. Furthermore, the audiobook will tackle Greek religion, and the gods and goddesses which establish the backdrop against which Greek legends were formed. We will also take a close look at the myths of Greek monsters. Listen to this audiobook now and discover captivating stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters, and Mortals.
-
-
Great references.....
- By Randall on 09-29-17
By: Matt Clayton, and others
-
48 Laws of Power
- By: Robert Greene
- Narrated by: Richard Poe
- Length: 23 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills 3,000 years of the history of power into 48 well-explicated laws. This bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other infamous strategists. The 48 Laws of Power will fascinate any listener interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.
-
-
You don't have to be a psychopath to like this.
- By Gaggleframpf on 02-25-16
By: Robert Greene
-
The Warrior Ethos
- By: Steven Pressfield
- Narrated by: Steven Pressfield
- Length: 1 hr and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We are all warriors. The Warrior Ethos is intended not only for men and women in uniform, but artists, entrepreneurs, and other warriors in other walks of life. The audiobook examines the evolution of the warrior code of honor and "mental toughness".
-
-
Not my thing, but still enjoyed it
- By Book Monster on 06-13-19
-
David the Great
- Deconstructing the Man After God's Own Heart
- By: Mark Rutland
- Narrated by: Maurice England
- Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
King David was a complicated, conflicted man of flesh. But too often he is viewed as an Americanized shepherd boy on a Sunday school felt board or a New Testament saint alongside the Virgin Mary. Not only does this neglect one of the Bible’s most complex stories of sin and redemption, it also bypasses the gritty, life lessons inherent in the amazing true story of David. Mark Rutland shreds the felt-board character, breaks down the sculpted marble statue, and unearths the real David of the Bible.
-
-
Excellent Read/Hear Excellent Content
- By Debi Smith on 07-09-18
By: Mark Rutland
-
God's Wolf
- The Life of the Most Notorious of All Crusaders, Scourge of Saladin
- By: Jeffrey Lee
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a 2010 terrorist plot, Al-Qaeda hid a bomb in a FedEx shipment addressed to Reynald de Chatillon, a knight who had died centuries ago in the Crusades. A reviled figure in Islamic history, often portrayed as the very epitome of brutality, Reynald remains as controversial - and as vividly present in the minds of many in the Middle East - as the story of the Crusades themselves.
-
-
A great look into the life of a great crusader
- By Jon on 02-28-19
By: Jeffrey Lee
-
The Inferno
- By: Dante, Robert Hollander - translator, Jean Hollander - translator
- Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
- Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The epic grandeur of Dante's masterpiece has inspired readers and listeners for 700 years and has entered the human imagination. But the further we move from the late medieval world of Dante, the more a rich understanding and enjoyment of the poem depends on knowledgeable guidance.
-
-
Into Hell
- By Adam on 10-25-19
By: Dante, and others
-
Mythology
- A Fascinating Guide to Understanding Greek Mythology, Norse Mythology, and Egyptian Mythology
- By: Matt Clayton, Captivating History
- Narrated by: J D Kelly
- Length: 4 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first part of this audiobook will explore Greek heroes, what they were like and what they accomplished. Furthermore, the audiobook will tackle Greek religion, and the gods and goddesses which establish the backdrop against which Greek legends were formed. We will also take a close look at the myths of Greek monsters. Listen to this audiobook now and discover captivating stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters, and Mortals.
-
-
Great references.....
- By Randall on 09-29-17
By: Matt Clayton, and others
-
48 Laws of Power
- By: Robert Greene
- Narrated by: Richard Poe
- Length: 23 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills 3,000 years of the history of power into 48 well-explicated laws. This bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other infamous strategists. The 48 Laws of Power will fascinate any listener interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.
-
-
You don't have to be a psychopath to like this.
- By Gaggleframpf on 02-25-16
By: Robert Greene
-
The Warrior Ethos
- By: Steven Pressfield
- Narrated by: Steven Pressfield
- Length: 1 hr and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We are all warriors. The Warrior Ethos is intended not only for men and women in uniform, but artists, entrepreneurs, and other warriors in other walks of life. The audiobook examines the evolution of the warrior code of honor and "mental toughness".
-
-
Not my thing, but still enjoyed it
- By Book Monster on 06-13-19
-
David the Great
- Deconstructing the Man After God's Own Heart
- By: Mark Rutland
- Narrated by: Maurice England
- Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
King David was a complicated, conflicted man of flesh. But too often he is viewed as an Americanized shepherd boy on a Sunday school felt board or a New Testament saint alongside the Virgin Mary. Not only does this neglect one of the Bible’s most complex stories of sin and redemption, it also bypasses the gritty, life lessons inherent in the amazing true story of David. Mark Rutland shreds the felt-board character, breaks down the sculpted marble statue, and unearths the real David of the Bible.
-
-
Excellent Read/Hear Excellent Content
- By Debi Smith on 07-09-18
By: Mark Rutland
-
God's Wolf
- The Life of the Most Notorious of All Crusaders, Scourge of Saladin
- By: Jeffrey Lee
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a 2010 terrorist plot, Al-Qaeda hid a bomb in a FedEx shipment addressed to Reynald de Chatillon, a knight who had died centuries ago in the Crusades. A reviled figure in Islamic history, often portrayed as the very epitome of brutality, Reynald remains as controversial - and as vividly present in the minds of many in the Middle East - as the story of the Crusades themselves.
-
-
A great look into the life of a great crusader
- By Jon on 02-28-19
By: Jeffrey Lee
-
The Fiery Angel
- Art, Culture, Sex, Politics, and the Struggle for the Soul of the West
- By: Michael Walsh
- Narrated by: Michael Walsh
- Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Without an understanding and appreciation of the culture we seek to preserve and protect, the defense of Western civilization is fundamentally futile; a culture that believes in nothing cannot defend itself, because it has nothing to defend. In this profound and wide-ranging historical survey, Michael Walsh illuminates the ways that the narrative and visual arts both reflect and affect the course of political history, outlining the way forward by arguing for the restoration of the heroic narrative that forms the basis of all Western cultural and religious traditions.
-
-
Great cultural criticism
- By miasarx on 08-06-18
By: Michael Walsh
-
Norse Mythology
- Captivating Stories of the Gods, Sagas and Heroes
- By: Matt Clayton
- Narrated by: JD Kelly
- Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Though the world came to know of the Norse and their legends through Roman interaction at about the time of Christ, most of what we came to know were handed-down from folk tales gathered by native writers like Snorri Sturluson (c. 1179 - 1241). This was from a time when the Norse had already been converted to Christianity.
-
-
Very interesting
- By E. Allison on 04-30-18
By: Matt Clayton
-
Greek Mythology
- Captivating Stories of the Ancient Olympians and Titans
- By: Ross Tanner
- Narrated by: JD Kelly
- Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This book contains a brief but unconventional look at the Titans and Olympian gods of Greek mythology. Brief, because a thorough treatment of these legendary super beings could take thousands of hours. Unconventional, because digging for truth is far more interesting than reciting old stories which have little relevance to us today. Attempting to reveal some semblance of truth brings the stories to life. It gives them relevance to our modern world. Here, we will look at many of the more fascinating stories.
-
-
very good
- By Janet Crawford on 12-02-17
By: Ross Tanner
-
Pandora's Jar
- Women in the Greek Myths
- By: Natalie Haynes
- Narrated by: Natalie Haynes
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The tellers of Greek myths—historically men—have routinely sidelined the female characters. When they do take a larger role, women are often portrayed as monstrous, vengeful or just plain evil—like Pandora, the woman of eternal scorn and damnation whose curiosity is tasked with causing all the world’s suffering and wickedness when she opened that forbidden box. But, as Natalie Haynes reveals, in ancient Greek myths there was no box. It was a jar . . . which is far more likely to tip over.
-
-
The Golden Age Continues
- By Stefan Filipovits on 03-29-22
By: Natalie Haynes
-
Greek Mythology
- A Fascinating Guide to Understanding the Ancient Greek Religion with Its Gods, Goddesses, Monsters and Mortals
- By: Matt Clayton
- Narrated by: JD Kelly
- Length: 1 hr and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient Greeks were explorers in many ways. They traveled to new places, creating colonies in strange lands far from their original homes. They were survivors. They were honorable thieves. They used their cunning to explore the frontiers of philosophy and they wrested from the chaos of the surrounding wilderness the building blocks of civilization.
-
-
Meh
- By Lucia on 11-10-21
By: Matt Clayton
-
Greek Mythology
- Classic Stories of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters (Classic Mythology, Book 1)
- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser
- Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This captivating audiobook will take you on a beautiful journey through the fascinating world of Greek mythology. From the beginning of the cosmos to the Odyssey, be ready to venture into an exciting world of love, loyalty, infidelity, vengeance, deception, and intrigue!
-
-
A great way to gain insight to Ancient Greece
- By cosmitron on 07-27-18
By: Scott Lewis
-
Norse Mythology:
- A Fascinating Guide to Understanding the Sagas, Gods, Heroes, and Beliefs of the Vikings
- By: Matt Clayton
- Narrated by: JD Kelly
- Length: 1 hr and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook is jam-packed with fascinating facts and stories. For instance, it covers all that you need to know about the nine realms as well as captivating tales of Odin, Thor, Loki, and Ragnarok. The Vikings of Norse poetry and saga were a fearless lot, and their tales were frequently tragic. Some, if not all, of the myths were based on real people and real events. These heroes accomplished many fantastic feats, some of them even documented by their enemies.
-
-
Utter Trash.Avoid this title.
- By Ralph A Attanasia on 09-14-17
By: Matt Clayton
-
The War That Killed Achilles
- The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War
- By: Caroline Alexander
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Few warriors, in life or literature, have challenged their commanding officer and the rationale of the war they fought as fiercely as did Homer's hero Achilles. Today, the Iliad is celebrated as one of the greatest works in literature, the epic of all epics; many have forgotten that the subject of this ancient poem was war - not merely the poetical romance of the war at Troy, but War, in all its enduring devastation.
-
-
Everything is more beautiful because we are doomed
- By Darwin8u on 07-29-15
-
Cleopatra: The Egyptian Queen: The Entire Life Story
- By: THE HISTORY HOUR
- Narrated by: Lizzie Richards
- Length: 1 hr and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cleopatra VII Philopator was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, nominally survived as pharaoh by her son Caesarion. She was also a diplomat, naval commander, polyglot, and medical author. As a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, she was a descendant of its founder, Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian Greek general and companion of Alexander the Great.
-
-
Good overview, poor narration
- By HP on 10-31-22
By: THE HISTORY HOUR
-
Greek Mythology
- A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters
- By: Matt Clayton
- Narrated by: JD Kelly
- Length: 1 hr and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook includes some of the standard views of Greek myth and history but also tantalizes your imagination with the possibilities that lie behind myth and legend. By the time you are finished with this book, you will have a good appreciation for the nature of Greek mythology and the gods, monsters, and heroes which populate it.
-
-
Greek mythology
- By happyjo on 09-29-19
By: Matt Clayton
-
Mythology
- A Captivating Guide to Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, and Norse Mythology
- By: Matt Clayton
- Narrated by: JD Kelly
- Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover captivating beliefs of the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Vikings in this book on mythology that contains three manuscripts. The first manuscript in this bundle is the best-seller called Greek Mythology: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters.
-
-
Where did the time Go?
- By Insatiable Intuitive on 04-17-18
By: Matt Clayton
-
Greek Mythology
- A Captivating Introduction to Greek Myths of Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters
- By: Matt Clayton
- Narrated by: Dryw McArthur
- Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This comprehensive collection introduces you to Greek mythology and will also captivate your attention and imagination, so you can relive the tales of the most fabulous Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters.
-
-
Listen before reading the actual works
- By Paul on 07-11-18
By: Matt Clayton