How Does 'The Iliad' End And What Happens To Troy?

The ending of 'The Iliad' is both heartbreaking and deeply human. After Hector's death at the hands of Achilles, the poem shifts focus to Priam's grief and his daring journey to Achilles' camp to beg for his son's body. The scene where Priam kisses Achilles' hands—the same hands that killed Hector—always gets me. It's raw, messy, and full of contradictions. Achilles, who’s been this unstoppable force of rage, finally softens when faced with a father’s love. The funeral rites for Hector close out the epic, but it’s not a tidy resolution. Troy’s fate still looms, and you’re left feeling the weight of all the unresolved pain. What sticks with me is how Homer doesn’t glorify war here. The final pages dwell on the toll it takes—the weeping women, the pyres, the sheer exhaustion of loss. It’s weirdly quiet compared to the rest of the poem’s battles. Makes you wonder if Achilles ever regretted his choices before his own death, which happens off-page. The ending’s power comes from what it doesn’t show: the fall of Troy, Achilles’ heel, all that mythic stuff. Instead, we get a moment where enemies recognize each other’s humanity.

The ending of 'The Iliad' is such a powerful blend of emotion and resolution that it truly resonates with me. Throughout this epic, we witness the intense wrath of Achilles and the tragic consequences it brings to the Achaeans and Trojans alike. Yet, as we approach the final chapters, the focus shifts from Achilles' fury to themes of honor, grief, and ultimately, reconciliation. In the last moments, we see a dramatic confrontation between Achilles and Hector. After Hector kills Patroclus, Achilles is consumed by rage and sorrow, setting off a vengeful spiral that leads to Hector’s demise. The scene where Achilles finally confronts Hector is visceral—it's not just a battle of strength but a clash of ideologies. Hector fights for his family and his city, while Achilles seeks retribution for his fallen friend. This conflict speaks to the depths of human emotions, showcasing how love and anger can drive people to their limits. Once Hector falls, we witness a tragic and poignant moment where Achilles' humanity shines through his relentless bravado. I was particularly struck by how he drags Hector's body around the walls of Troy, not just in rage but in a deeply rooted grief. It’s almost heartbreaking to see a hero reduced to such brutality. At the same time, it’s a fitting symbol of how war can rob individuals of their honor and their sense of self. Ultimately, the story finds its resolution with King Priam’s grief-stricken plea to Achilles for the return of Hector’s body. This moment of shared sorrow is so raw, it makes you pause and reflect. Priam’s humility in the face of such rage restores a sense of balance to the narrative, showing that camaraderie, empathy, and understanding exist even in the wake of war’s devastation. Achilles, moved by Priam’s pain and perhaps his own losses, agrees to return Hector's body, marking a crucial shift in his character arc. The ending serves as a powerful meditation on mortality, the futility of vengeance, and the glimmers of humanity that can be found amidst chaos. It’s fascinating how, in its final scenes, 'The Iliad' encapsulates a conflict that goes beyond individual battles and into the heart of human experience. I can’t help but think how relevant these themes remain today. It resonates profoundly, reflecting the lines between love and loss, honor and vengeance, and how we ultimately navigate through our grief. The poignant culmination in 'The Iliad' leaves you contemplating the true cost of war, long after you close the book.

As someone who adores epic tales, I find the ending of Book 3 of 'The Iliad' both dramatic and poignant. It concludes with the duel between Paris and Menelaus, a pivotal moment in the Trojan War. Paris, who abducted Helen, faces her husband Menelaus in single combat. Just as Menelaus is about to win, the goddess Aphrodite intervenes, whisking Paris away to safety. This divine interference leaves the conflict unresolved, heightening the tension between the Greeks and Trojans. The scene shifts to Helen, who is berated by Aphrodite for her reluctance to return to Paris. Despite her disdain, Helen obeys the goddess and reunites with Paris in his chamber. The book ends with their intimate moment, contrasting the personal drama with the larger war. This ending underscores the themes of fate, divine intervention, and human frailty, making it a compelling conclusion to Book 3.

The final scenes of Book 18 in the 'Iliad' hit like a storm. Achilles, shattered by Patroclus' death, finally snaps out of his withdrawal. The moment he learns of his friend's fate, his grief is so visceral you can almost hear his scream through the pages. Thetis, his mother, rushes to comfort him, but he’s already burning for vengeance—no more sulking in the tents. Meanwhile, Hephaestus forges that legendary armor, especially the shield, which Homer describes in jaw-dropping detail. It’s not just gear; it’s a microcosm of the world, with cities at peace and war, fields being harvested, dancing, all etched into metal. The book ends with Achilles stepping toward his destiny, armed with divine craftsmanship, and you just know the next battle will be apocalyptic. What gets me every time is the contrast between Achilles' raw, human rage and the almost serene artistry of the shield. It’s like Homer’s saying war is ugly, but life—even amid chaos—is still worth depicting in all its complexity. The armor becomes a symbol of what’s at stake: not just glory, but the entire human experience.

Book 16 of the 'Iliad' is one of those chapters that sticks with you long after you close the book. It's where Patroclus, Achilles' beloved companion, finally steps onto the battlefield wearing Achilles' armor, hoping to turn the tide for the Greeks. The action is intense—Patroclus fights like a demon, pushing the Trojans back, even killing Sarpedon, a son of Zeus. But then Apollo intervenes, striking Patroclus, and Hector finishes him off. The moment Patroclus dies, you can feel the weight of it—Achilles' rage is simmering, and you just know everything’s about to explode. The book ends with Hector stripping Patroclus of the armor, a brutal act that feels like a personal insult to Achilles. It’s a turning point, setting up the inevitable clash between Hector and Achilles. I remember reading this and feeling this mix of dread and anticipation—like you’re watching a storm build on the horizon. The way Homer writes these scenes is so visceral. The grief, the pride, the sheer brutality of war—it’s all there. Patroclus’ death isn’t just a plot point; it’s this emotional gut punch that changes everything. And Hector’s arrogance here? It’s almost tragic because you know what’s coming for him. The ending leaves you desperate to see how Achilles will react, how this personal vendetta will play out. It’s storytelling at its rawest.

Reading 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey' back-to-back feels like tracing the arc of war’s devastation to the quiet, stubborn hope of homecoming. 'The Iliad' ends not with Troy’s fall—that’s left for other stories—but with Hector’s funeral. Priam, trembling with grief, sneaks into Achilles’ camp to beg for his son’s body, and in that raw moment, even Achilles’ rage softens. They share a meal, mourning together. It’s achingly human, this pause in the bloodshed. The poem closes with Hector’s pyre burning, a reminder that war devours even the noble. Meanwhile, 'The Odyssey' wraps with a quieter but no less powerful resolution. Odysseus, after 20 years, finally reunites with Penelope, but Ithaca’s troubles aren’t over. The suitors’ families want vengeance, and Athena has to intervene to prevent more violence. The last image is Odysseus and Penelope alone at last, their bed—carved from a living olive tree—anchoring them to something enduring. Homer leaves us with the sense that peace is fragile, hard-won, and worth every trial. It’s a testament to resilience, not just of heroes but of ordinary love.

Odysseus doesn’t actually appear in the final moments of 'The Iliad'—most of his journey happens in 'The Odyssey'! But if we’re talking about his role in the Trojan War’s conclusion, he’s the brains behind the Trojan Horse, which seals the Greeks’ victory. After that, he sets sail for home, but Poseidon’s wrath drags him into a decade-long detour. The last we see of him in 'The Iliad' is as a cunning strategist, still very much alive and pivotal to the war’s end. It’s wild how his story barely scratches the surface here—his real trials begin later, with cyclopes, sirens, and all that jazz. Makes me appreciate how Homer split their arcs; 'The Iliad' feels like the explosive prelude to Odysseus’s personal epic. Funny how his fate in 'The Odyssey' overshadows his 'Iliad' presence. I’ve always loved how these two epics complement each other—one’s about collective war, the other about solitary survival. Odysseus’s character really blooms in the sequel, but even in 'The Iliad,' you glimpse his resourcefulness. That duality is why he’s my favorite Greek hero.

The Trojan War, as depicted in Homer's 'Iliad,' doesn't actually show the full resolution—it ends before the fall of Troy. But if we're talking about the broader mythos, the Greeks eventually win thanks to that infamous wooden horse trick. What fascinates me, though, is how the 'Iliad' focuses less on who wins and more on the human cost. Achilles' rage, Hector's doomed heroism, and the sheer pettiness of the gods make the war feel like a tragic spiral rather than a clear victory. The Greeks might take Troy, but Homer leaves you wondering if anyone really 'wins' in the end—especially with all the suffering piled up. And let's not forget how later stories, like Virgil's 'Aeneid,' flip the script. The Trojans lose the war but go on to found Rome, which kinda feels like a cosmic do-over. The 'Iliad' is this raw, unfinished masterpiece where the ending isn't neat, and that's why it sticks with you. The Greeks 'win,' but the poem’s heart is in the messy middle, where glory and grief are tangled up forever.