Which epic poem did Alexander the Great keep with him on his campaigns? Alexander kept Homer’s The Iliad with him.
Ancient accounts portray Alexander as deeply influenced by Homer’s epic of the Trojan War. He reportedly regarded Achilles as a heroic model and identified with the warrior’s courage, fame, and connection to the legendary Greek past. Aristotle, who had taught Alexander, is traditionally said to have prepared an annotated copy for him.
The story fits Alexander’s broader effort to connect his conquests with Greek mythology and heroic history. During his campaign in Asia, he visited Troy and honored the supposed tomb of Achilles, while his companion Hephaestion honored Patroclus, Achilles’ companion in the epic tradition.
The Iliad is often confused with The Odyssey, another Homeric poem. The Iliad centers on events surrounding the Trojan War, especially Achilles’ anger; The Odyssey follows Odysseus’s long journey home. Alexander’s famous campaign book was associated with the former.