The last year of the Trojan War is described in Homer's epic, The Iliad. Homer builds a legend about honor, love, sacrifice and the Olympian gods. The Iliad is believed to have been created primarily by the famous Greek writer Homer around the year 750 BC. One of the purposes of the epic is to keep the stories of the Trojan War and ancient Greece alive. It is also a tale that entertains and teaches those from all time periods about honor, courage, sacrifice, and love. The plot of the Iliad is most likely based on legends and stories passed down through Greek tradition. The Greeks believed that their ancestors, such as Achilles and Agamemnon, were born to the Olympian gods. Many times Homer refers to people being stronger, faster, or nobler at this time. “…Aeneas seized a great stone, so enormous that two men, as there are today, would not be able to lift it, but Aeneas handled it easily enough.” (The Iliad) This is a clue that it was common at that time for people to have great respect for their ancestors, and Homer reflects this in his poetry. The poem brings more character and opinion to the Trojan War than a factual account. It shows the thoughts and feelings of many people, from their point of view. He attributes the victories of certain battles not only to the combatants, but also to the gods. The Iliad deals with war on a large scale, speaking of large armies gathering from all over Greece, but also on a more personal scale, showing the regret Helen feels when she thinks of all those who have suffered and died because of her. . “He found her (Helen) in her room, busy working on a large purple linen canvas, on which she embroidered the battles between the Trojans and the Achaeans which Mar...... in the center of the paper...... the Le Bold (or reckless) actions performed in the Iliad serve to earn respect and honor from fellow soldiers, or even those on the other side of the war. Heroes are often addressed with great reverence using phrases such as "honor to the Achaean name". (The Iliad) The dead are also honored, especially those killed in battle. Throughout the Iliad, Homer emphasizes that those who are heroes should be given respect and honor. The Iliad is the story of a war waged thousands of years ago, yet it is still remembered today. It is a tragedy and an epic, a window into the world of ancient Greece through a man who experienced that world and its legends firsthand. While it sometimes contains too much detail to understand or absorb in one or two readings, it conveys its themes and arguments very strongly. Homer's Iliad is truly a masterpiece on many levels.