An epic poem is a long narrative poem, normally dealing with a serious subject while covering heroic acts and events important to a culture or nation. Homer, the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, is perhaps the most famous and notable epic writer. Directly inspired by stories passed down orally over the centuries, Homer wrote these epic poems telling the stories of the final year of the Trojan War and Odysseus' journey home from the Trojan War. These epics are filled with supernatural events such as gods lending their power to a hero, allowing him to kill row after row of troops and gods entering directly onto the battlefield to help turn the tide of a battle. The grandeur of these events is indicative of fictional superhero stories rather than fact. However, if you compare the events described in the Iliad to known historical facts from ancient Greece and current scientific evidence, Homer's Iliad may have a basis in real history. Homer's description of ancient Greek geography, his depiction of divine interference, his depiction of war and the use of technology can be substantiated and show that the Trojan War and many events taking place in the Iliad were real historical events or can be justified. The Iliad tells the story of the final weeks of the final year of the Trojan War, after nine long years of fighting between the Trojans and the Achaeans (Greeks). The fighting began with Paris of Troy bringing Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, back to Troy and away from her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta. Outraged, King Menelaus gathered the kings and armies of Greece and set sail for Troy to wage war and recapture Helen. Although the Greeks brought a massive force...... middle of paper...... there is little evidence of direct trade between the Mycenaeans and the Hittites, large quantities of Mycenaean and Hittite goods were found in Hissarlik. While archaeological evidence found at Troy appears to imply primarily peaceful relations with the Hittites and Mycenaeans, Hittite records found at the Hittite capital of Hattusa appear to reveal more warlike relations. The first probable mention of Troy actually came from the records of a military expedition led by the Hittite king Tudhaliya I. This expedition was against the Assuwa Confederacy in the 15th century BCE. Two of the listed towns belonging to the confederation were Taurisa and Wilusiya. The Assuwa region is identified as Asia, known as the northwestern province of Anatolia during the Greco-Roman era. Wilusiya, or Wilusa, is known from later Hititte texts and is thought