The true story of Troy is being made available to schools, thanks to the work of a North-East scholar. A translation of Homer's The Iliad by former Newcastle University classics lecturer Dr Peter Jones is being offered free of charge to schools under a sponsorship deal with oil company Kerr McGee. The story of the Iliad is the basis for the current film blockbuster Troy, though the movie has made some adjustments with the original story. But Dr Jones is hoping the film - and interest in Greek civilisation spurred by this summer's Olympics in Athens - will encourage children to re-discover the original. "There should be an immediate interest in The Iliad because of the film Troy. The film misrepresents parts of the story and it is interesting to compare them. "But it's also the first work of Western literature and that's a great reason for children to read it. "It's a cracking story for one thing, and it also speaks to us about a whole range of issues: anger and pride, war and peace, pity. "They're all very relevant today and they're what Homer's The Iliad is all about. It's an instantly accessible story as well." Dr Jones was a senior lecturer in Greek and classics at Newcastle University and is the founder of the Friends of Classics charity. He produced a translation of The Iliad last year for publishers Penguin last year that updated a 1950s translation by classical scholar E V Rieu. Dr Jones' version of The Iliad also comes with an introduction to the classic poem, which dates back to 800 BC. It tells the tale of the Trojan war, in particular how Greek hero Achilles refuses to fight after being humiliated by his leader Agamemnon, but then rejoins the battle after the Trojan Hector kills his friend Patroclus. A Hollywood film version of the Troy story is currently a box office hit around the world. But the film has been criticised for taking liberties with the original story. In the original, Achilles dies when he is shot in the heel as he drags the body of Hector from his chariot around the walls of Troy. The film version puts Achilles - played by Hollywood star Brad Pitt - in a rather more heroic light. | 
Northumberland
