With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad.

For example:

"Rage--Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles,
Murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many souls,
great fighters’ souls. But made their bodies carrion,
feasts for dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving towards its end.
Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,
Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles."
-Translated by Robert Fagles

“Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a heroes did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another.”
-Translated by Samuel Butler

Our story takes place in the ninth year of the ongoing war. We get some introduction to the first nine years but they are just a background to this tale of pride, sorrow and revenge. The story will also end abruptly before the end of the war.

We have the wide conflict between the Trojans and Achaeans over a matter of pride; the gods get to take sides and many times direct spears and shields.

Although the more focused conflict is the power struggle between two different types of power. That of Achilles, son of Peleus and the greatest individual warier and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, who’s power comes form position.

We are treated to a blow by blow inside story as to what each is thinking and an unvarnished description of the perils of war.

This so-called myth written by Homer, a Greek poet takes place around the year 1440 B.C. This story talks about the realities of war, love, friendship, and most importantly, sadness. It mostly talks about what's happening on Mt. Olympus (the place where the Greek gods live), the friendship between Achilles and Patroclus, and finally the different fights that occur throughout the ten years of brutality. Although most people think that the Iliad contains everything that happened during the Trojan war, it isn't the case. This book is only the first part of the ten-year war. The Odyssey is the second and final part of this war.
What's fabulous about this translated version of the Iliad by Robert Fagles is that it can be read by children and adults. There are two reasons why it is readable for anyone. One reason is that the Iliad is exciting to the person who reads it and the person won't put the book down. The second reason is that for the person who has an interest in reading about ancient myths, its extensiveness is satisfying. Also it has an extended glossary, maps, notes, and one-sentence descriptions of all the characters.
I recommend this book to people who are interested in ancient Greek myths.

ホメロスなる盲目詩人が残したトロイ戦争をめぐる長い長い叙事詩、近年ブラピ主演のハリウッド映画・『トロイ』として登場した。
散文を読む時は気づかないが、詩文を読むとしみじみ思う。外国語は所詮外国語だわ〜。本書は世評に高い新英語訳だそう…英語詩文の質については私はコメント出来ない。
主人公はアキレウス。トロイに対するギリシア側最強の戦士。半神半人の荒ぶる魂。で、こやつが凄い。こんな我儘無責任なエゴイスト、なんで「英雄」なんだと首を傾げる。こいつに比べればトロイ側のヘクトールこそ人間的に優れた良き男、英雄に相応しい。しかしそれはどうやら現代人の感覚なのだ。アキレウスが何故「英雄」なのか…いっちゃん「強い」から。そう閃いた瞬間、古代世界にほんの少し触れた気がした。戦に勝ってこそ偉大なのだ。負ければ一巻の終わり、虐殺されるか奴隷にされる。勝ち組こそが英雄的なのである。「大将の人間性」などというキレイ事は通用しない。それが「古代」なのだ。