Iliad - Public domain English translationWhile the Greeks line up for battle, Zeus tells Themis to line up the gods. Only the Ocean who holds the earth in place is excluded.
Zeus says he will stay on Olympus, but the other gods are to go down to help the Greeks or Trojans. The Trojans need help because otherwise Achilles will contravene fate by destroying the walls of Troy.
Hera, Athena, Hermes, and Poseidon go to help the Greeks. Ares, Artemis, Apollo Leto, Xanthus, and Aphrodite go to help the Trojans. The Olympians merge with the mortals. Zeus lets loose thunder, and Poseidon, earthquakes, which scare Hades in the Underworld.
Achilles wants to fight Hector, but Apollo tries to make Aeneas go against Achilles. Achilles says it's foolish to go against him, since he is always accompanied by a god. Even without divine assistance, his spear is lethal. Apollo (who is in the form of Lycaon, a son of Priam) tells Aeneas to summon his own deity -- Aphrodite, who, Lycaon-Apollo says, is stronger than Achilles' personal maternal deity, Thetis.
Hera sees Aeneas advancing and calls to Poseidon and Athena, telling them to turn him back or stand by Achilles to provide assistance. Poseidon says they should leave the war to the mortals.
Achilles tells Aeneas that it's foolish and he should go away, since even if he should kill Achilles, Priam won't give Aeneas the kingdom; besides, Aeneas had once before run away from Achilles' spear. Aeneas says Achilles cannot scare him. He then tells his genealogical story and then hurls his lance at Achilles. It goes through two of the shield's five layers. In turn, Achilles hurls his spear, which strikes Aeneas' shield. Achilles draws his sword to charge Aeneas, while the Trojan picks up a boulder to throw.
Poseidon summons the gods. Aeneas has always honored he gods [Vergil refers to him as pius Aeneas ('pious Aeneas')], so Poseidon wants to save him [even though he's on the wrong side] and says he is needed to carry on the race of Dardanus. Athena and Hera won't help, so Poseidon pours mist over Achilles' eyes and tosses Aeneas out of the way. He tells Aeneas he is playing the madman and that he should wait until Achilles is dead before he fights again. Poseidon then lifts the mist over Achilles' eyes. Achilles sees that a miracle has been performed. His spear is there, but Aeneas has vanished.
Achilles rallies the Greeks, while Hector does the same to the Trojans.
Apollo appears to Hector to tell him not to fight Achilles out in front of his men, so Hector withdraws.
Achilles starts killing Trojans. When Hector sees Achilles kill his brother Polydorus, he throws his spear at Achilles, but Athena deflects it. Achilles charges at Hector, but Apollo whisks Hector away in a mist -- three times. Achilles taunts that next time they fight, he will kill Hector. Then Achilles resumes his killing spree.
