Book XXIII of the Iliad deals with the Funeral Games of Patroclus, whose death Achilles has avenged in Book XXII with his slaying of Hector. It provides a crucial element to the closure of Homer's epic, encapsulating its narrative and prominent themes, preparing the audience for the future of the story both within the poem and after its end, and focusing our attention on the behaviour and personality of its Achilles and his wrath as he grieves for his closest companion. The ongoing tensions within the Greek camp before Troy provide the stimulus for the exciting events of the Funeral Games and their reflection on the dynamics which drive the characters in Homer's world. Detailed analysis of language, structure, and narrative technique illuminates the brilliance of Homeric poetry, whilst the Introduction and Commentary explain and guide the reader through the text's literary and historical issues.

    The Introduction outlines the nature of Homeric language so that students do not struggle with its unusual forms
    The detailed Commentary provides a step-by-step guide to both the immediate and the wider context of the text so that students can appreciate both aspects as they read
    The Introduction provides both a literary and a historical outline of the narrative of Book XXIII, so that students can understand the wider issues of Homeric poetry and early Greek culture