A Night of Epic Insomnia at The Iliadathon

Students at Veritas Prep participate in a decades-long tradition called the Iliadathon, centered around the epic poem written over 2,700 years ago, The Iliad. Students arrive with camping tents and sleeping bags, along with their copy of the Iliad, ready to be “locked in” for a night of recitation and events based on The Iliad. This ancient masterpiece, attributed to the Greek poet Homer, has stood the test of time as one of the most influential works in Western literature.

Dr. Anthony Fredette teaches Latin and Greek at the academy and, aside from being a big fan of the event, is also an organizer. “The Iliadathon is an event in which we gather together, students and faculty, and we read the entirety of The Iliad over the course of the night from about 4:00 p.m. to about 10:00 a.m. the following morning,” said Fredette.

The main event, of course, is the ongoing recitation of the Iliad, itself. It’s fitting that the literature is shared outload, as The Iliad is a masterclass in storytelling, demonstrating the enduring power of narrative to captivate and engage readers across generations. Homer’s poetic mastery, vivid descriptions, and meticulous attention to detail continue to inspire writers, poets, and artists to this day.

“The Iliad has been rightly called the foundational text of all of Western literature throughout the history of Western literature. People either read The Iliad directly or they read authors who were heavily influenced by The Iliad,” said Fredette. “And so, it’s really at the foundation of the many canonical texts that we read together as part of the Great Hearts curriculum.”

But there is a bit more to event than just the tag-team style recitations. “We have two main events. One of those is the roasting of a pig whole to reflect premodern dining practices,” said Fredette. “The pig is then carved, and the students engage in a communal dinner together.”

“Another signal event is a mock combat. The students engage in a competition with each other to see who can disarm the others,” he continued. “This is in remembrance of the many excellent combat scenes that one reads about when one reads The Iliad.” The mock combat includes weapons, shields, and coats-of-arms replicated by the students using cardboard earlier in the evening, a pastime that is enthusiastically enjoyed by the students as they thoughtfully construct the pseudo armor.

“We bring students together and engage in an event in which everybody is focusing on one text,” added Fredette. “So a bunch of students gathering together to focus on a singular text is about the most Great Hearts thing I can possibly imagine.”

The Iliad’s enduring relevance lies in its ability to transcend time and culture, offering valuable lessons and insights into the human condition. By studying this ancient epic in our academies and events like this, students not only gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural heritage of ancient Western culture, but also engage with universal themes that continue to resonate in our modern world. The Iliad serves as a reminder that, despite the passage of time, the complexities of human nature, ethics, and conflict remain as pertinent today as they were in the age of Homer.

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