The Iliad

I've finished the lengthy scholarly introduction to The Iliad and after that wade the actual poem is a pleasure to read. At the present time, however I happen to be negotiating the roster of the Greek Troops in Canto Two. Most of the place names no longer exist on a modern map of the Aegean and the names of both people and places are largely unpronounceable making this section about as exciting as the begats in Numbers in the Biblical Old Testament. I'm not moved to add up all the boats to see if they actually total a thousand ships but I would ask; if all those men sat around outside the walls of Troy for over ten years, who was minding the store back home?