In a bizarre turn of events, a suspected thief in Rome was apprehended after getting sidetracked by a book about Homer’s epic poem, ‘The Iliad’. The 71-year-old homeowner discovered the 38-year-old thief engrossed in the book on his bedside table. The thief had allegedly accessed the flat in Rome’s Prati district through the balcony, but instead of proceeding with the burglary, he found himself drawn to the literary work.
When questioned by police, the thief claimed that he had climbed the building to visit someone he knew, but had mistakenly entered the wrong apartment. He stated, “I thought I had ended up in a B&B, saw the book, and started reading it.”
The unusual incident garnered the attention of the book’s author, Giovanni Nucci, who writes ‘The Gods at Six O’Clock’, a book that offers a divine perspective on the ‘Iliad’. Nucci, expressing amusement at the situation, told Il Messaggero, “It’s fantastic. I’d like to find the person caught red-handed and give him the book, because he’ll have been arrested halfway through reading it. I’d like him to be able to finish it. It’s a surreal story, but also full of humanity.”
Following his discovery by the homeowner, the thief attempted to escape through the same balcony but was swiftly arrested. Police found a bag containing expensive clothing, believed to have been stolen from another house earlier that evening, in his possession.
Nucci, referencing his personal favorite deity, Hermes – the god of thieves and literature, humorously commented, “It is clear: everything fits.”
‘The Iliad’, an epic poem attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer, is considered one of the most significant works in classical literature. It chronicles the Trojan War, focusing on the legendary hero Achilles and the events leading up to the fall of Troy. The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and the influence of the gods on human affairs, showcasing the intense struggles and conflicts of its characters on and off the battlefield.
