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The Iliad: Beauty, brutes and battles

Bettany Hughes and guests discuss Homer鈥檚 ancient Greek epic poem, The Iliad, and look at its origins, themes and continuing relevance to people across the world.

Nearly 3,000 years after it was written down, The Iliad is still one of the most influential and inspiring stories ever told. Homer鈥檚 epic poem is a tale of war, but puts human emotions centre-stage: wrath, grief, love, heroism and separation.

With Bettany Hughes to discuss The Iliad鈥檚 origins, themes and continuing relevance to people across the world are: Stathis Livathinos, Director of the National Theatre of Greece; Antony Makrinos, a Greek classicist specialising in Homer who teaches at University College London; Professor Folake Onayemi, Head of the Classics Department at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at King's College London.

Photo: An engraving depicting the Trojan war. (Getty Images)

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41 minutes

Last on

Wed 7 Dec 2016 02:06GMT

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Broadcasts

  • Mon 5 Dec 2016 02:06GMT
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  • Tue 6 Dec 2016 09:06GMT
  • Tue 6 Dec 2016 12:06GMT
  • Tue 6 Dec 2016 23:06GMT
  • Wed 7 Dec 2016 02:06GMT

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