Battle and Battle Description in Homer

Acknowledging that Homer is a poet, not a staff instructor, Albracht works carefully through the Homeric text to produce a persuasive picture of the workings of battle in the Iliad, in two parts: in Part I the council of war, marshalling of the troops, the use of chariots, the advance into battle, the standing fight, the massed attack and defence, retreat, flight and pursuit; in Part II protection in the field, attack and defence of a fortified camp, and the siege and defence of a fortified city. Throughout, he offers the reader fascinating explanations of the details of the battle narrative.