Book I

The book's plot is summarized, followed by the poet's invocation to the Muse to sing of Achilles' wrath.

The priest Chryses begs for his daughter's return, but Agamemnon angrily rejects his plea and sends him away.

Chryses' prayer unleashes a plague, prompting Achilles to convene a council to discover the cause of the god's anger.

The seer Chalcas rises, asks for protection before speaking, and Achilles swears an oath to defend him.

Chalcas reveals Agamemnon is the cause of the plague, and the king erupts in fury, demanding a new prize.

Achilles accuses the king of greed, and Agamemnon threatens to take Achilles' own prize, Briseis, in compensation.

Achilles furiously recounts his reasons for fighting and declares he will no longer serve such an ungrateful king.

Agamemnon scoffs at Achilles' threats and vows to take Briseis, prompting the goddess Minerva to intervene as Achilles draws his sword.

Minerva appears to Achilles, urging him to restrain his anger and sheathe his sword, promising future rewards for his obedience.

Achilles unleashes a torrent of verbal abuse on Agamemnon and swears a great oath on his sceptre to withdraw from the war.

The aged Nestor rises and attempts to pacify the two leaders, recalling heroes of old and urging wisdom and compromise.

Agamemnon and Achilles exchange final, angry words before the council dissolves and the armies attend to their duties.

While the army performs rites of purification, Agamemnon sends two heralds to Achilles' tent to seize his prize, Briseis.

After Briseis is led away, a grieving Achilles goes to the shore and calls upon his mother, the sea-goddess Thetis.

Achilles recounts his dishonor to Thetis and implores her to ask Jupiter to grant victory to the Trojans to punish Agamemnon.

Thetis promises to petition Jupiter in twelve days, while Ulysses arrives at Chrysa to return Chryseïs and appease Apollo.

Chryses joyfully receives his daughter and leads the Greeks in a sacrifice and prayer to Apollo to end the plague.

After twelve days, Thetis ascends to Olympus and begs Jupiter to honor her son by giving victory to the Trojans.

Though reluctant to anger Juno, Jupiter grants Thetis's plea and confirms his promise with an irrevocable nod that shakes Olympus.