Founding texts of Western Literature

Homer's "Iliad" & 'Odyssey" (Greek) are the most famous ancient books. "Iliad" deals with the consequences of the abduction of Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta (one of the Achaeans) by Prince Paris, son of King Hector of Troy (one of the Trojans). The resulting Trojan war regained Helen, after valorous feats by Achilles, who fought for the Achaeans.

The "Odyssey" deals with the adventures of Odysseus, King of Ithaca (one of the Achaeans) on his way home after the Trojan war, to his faithful wife Penelope, who patiently awaited his return through long years.

The third great epic, Virgil's "Aeneid" (Latin) deals with the adventures of Aeneas, one of the Trojans, & son of Goddess Aphrodite. Like Homer who began his epic with the words "Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles", Virgil begins by saying "I sing of arms & a man".

If the above three appeared before the advent of Christ, the epic written in Tuscan (Italian), which appeared in the middle ages, was Dante's "The Divine Comedy". This incorporated the Christian theology of the soul's ascent from Hell through Purgatory to Paradise.

The influence of these in shaping western civilization is so profound that none can understand the western psyche without a study of these.