The Iliad
The Iliad
A great war begins when a prince takes another man's wife, leading two powerful armies to fight for ten long years. Heroes on both sides must face difficult choices between honor, love, and survival.
My name is Rocinante.
My name is Rocinante.
I am a horse.
I am a horse.
I carry Prince Paris on my back every day.
I carry Prince Paris on my back every day.
Today Paris looks very worried.
Today Paris looks very worried.
He keeps looking at the big wooden walls of Troy.
He keeps looking at the big wooden walls of Troy.
Many Greek ships sit by the water.
Many Greek ships sit by the water.
They have been there for ten years!
They have been there for ten years!
"Rocinante,"
"Rocinante,"
Paris says to me.
Paris says to me.
"I think I made a big mistake."
"I think I made a big mistake."
I shake my head.
I shake my head.
Yes, you did, I think.
Yes, you did, I think.
But horses cannot talk.
But horses cannot talk.
It all started when Paris took Helen from her husband.
It all started when Paris took Helen from her husband.
Helen is very beautiful.
Helen is very beautiful.
She has long golden hair and blue eyes.
She has long golden hair and blue eyes.
But she belonged to a Greek king named Menelaus. Now all the Greeks are angry.
But she belonged to a Greek king named Menelaus. Now all the Greeks are angry.
They want Helen back.
They want Helen back.
They brought many soldiers and ships to fight Troy. Every day I see the same thing.
They brought many soldiers and ships to fight Troy. Every day I see the same thing.
Greek soldiers fight Trojan soldiers.
Greek soldiers fight Trojan soldiers.
People die.
People die.
Mothers cry.
Mothers cry.
Children are hungry.
Children are hungry.
The strongest Greek fighter is Achilles.
The strongest Greek fighter is Achilles.
He is very scary.
He is very scary.
Even I, a brave horse, run away when I see him coming.
Even I, a brave horse, run away when I see him coming.
The strongest Trojan fighter is Hector.
The strongest Trojan fighter is Hector.
He is Paris's brother.
He is Paris's brother.
Hector is good and kind.
Hector is good and kind.
All the horses love him.
All the horses love him.
He always gives us fresh water and sweet grass.
He always gives us fresh water and sweet grass.
But yesterday something terrible happened.
But yesterday something terrible happened.
Achilles killed Hector!
Achilles killed Hector!
Now Troy has no strong fighter to protect it. Paris cries on my back.
Now Troy has no strong fighter to protect it. Paris cries on my back.
"What will happen to our city?"
"What will happen to our city?"
he asks.
he asks.
I wish I could tell him.
I wish I could tell him.
The Greeks are building something big and wooden.
The Greeks are building something big and wooden.
It looks like... a horse!
It looks like... a horse!
But it is much bigger than me. I have a bad feeling about this wooden horse.
But it is much bigger than me. I have a bad feeling about this wooden horse.
Very bad.
Very bad.
Tonight the Greeks will trick Troy.
Tonight the Greeks will trick Troy.
And tomorrow, this long war will finally end.
And tomorrow, this long war will finally end.
But not the way Paris wants it to end.
But not the way Paris wants it to end.