Peter Green's translation of the Iliad tends to retain a more traditional and formal tone, reflecting the grandeur and seriousness of the epic. For example, his version of the opening lines emphasizes "Achilles Pēleus's son's calamitous wrath" and uses phrases like "countless ills," lending a weighty and classical feel. In Green's rendition, Athena's dialogue with Diomedes retains a lyrical quality, while emphasizing her fierce support: describing Ares as a "raving madman," highlighting the deception and complexity of the gods. His translation consistently uses formal and somewhat archaic language structures, drawing readers into the epic's authoritative and high-stakes atmosphere. Emily Wilson, on the other hand, adopts a more contemporary and direct style, which makes the epic slightly more accessible. Her opening invocation to the "cataclysmic wrath of great Achilles" is clear and potent, yet she employs simpler language to convey the same events as Green. Wilson's translation focuses on maintaining the power and speed of the narrative with straightforward diction. Her depiction of Athena encouraging Diomedes portrays the events with striking clarity and succinctness, using phrases like "shapeshifter" and "insane" to describe Ares, which paint a vivid picture. Wilson's approach makes the text more approachable to a modern audience, while maintaining the poem’s epic impact without sacrificing depth or fidelity to the source.
Wrath, goddess, sing of Achilles Pēleus's son's
calamitous wrath, which hit the Achaians with countless ills—
many the valiant souls it saw off down to Hādēs,
souls of heroes, their selves1 left as carrion for dogs
and all birds of prey, and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled
from the first moment those two men parted in fury,
Atreus's son, king of men, and the godlike Achilles.
Goddess, sing of the cataclysmic wrath
of great Achilles, son of Peleus,
which caused the Greeks immeasurable pain
and sent so many noble souls of heroes
to Hades, and made men the spoils of dogs,
a banquet for the birds, and so the plan
of Zeus unfolded—starting with the conflict
between great Agamemnon, lord of men,
and glorious Achilles.