Ever wanted a proper overview of Homer's Iliad, one of literature's most influential works? This reading group, with a limited number of places, goes deep into the poem's structure, its reception history and its central themes, many of which feel strikingly relevant today.
Martin Herbst, priest, author, lecturer and travel leader, guides the group. He has taught the Iliad and other classics for the past twenty years, at venues ranging from adult education institutions and universities to prisons. He also leads another upcoming study circle, on the seven deadly sins, at Folkekirkens Hus.
The course runs over three sessions. The first introduces the course and suggests how to divide the reading. The second gives an overview of the poem's origins, composition and far-reaching influence on culture, art and literature. The last explores themes such as anger, political disillusion, the pursuit of glory, war, love, the meaning of tears and the possibility of reconciliation. If the group is a success, a follow-up on the Odyssey is reportedly planned for autumn 2027.
