Sri Aurobindo commenced the composition of his epic poem, Ilion, whilst in Alipore jail in 1909. He stored vast passages in his extraordinary memory until finally writing them down upon arrival in Pondicherry. What followed was a nine-book epic poem, his second longest after Savitri, about the final day of the Trojan War.

Troy, in his vision, was not simply a city destroyed by Greek military force; it was a civilisation standing at one of those great turning points of history when one world-age gives way to another. The vivid imagery and heroic consciousness infused into this poem lifts and transports us to this incredible bygone era and makes history come alive, not just as a description of dead events but as a demonstration of how the Divine acts in man and in events and leads us towards an ever progressing destiny.

This session offers a gateway into Sri Aurobindo’s world of Ilion and the final, moving day of Troy. For those interested in continuing this journey with Maya and Ilion, La Grace Center and Auromira Center, London will be co-sponsoring an on-going study group. Dates and times will be announced subsequent to this introductory session.