Ray Ellis’s Reviews > The Iliad Translated by Samuel Butler > Status Update

Book 20: The gods re-enter the battle, and Achilles goes on a devastating rampage against the Trojans, while Hector narrowly escapes their encounter after being protected by Apollo. Book 21: Achilles continues slaughtering the Trojans, even fighting the river god Scamander, who tries to drown him; the gods intervene, and Achilles eventually returns to the battle.

Book 16: Patroclus enters the battle wearing Achilles’ armour, drives the Trojans back from the ships, but is eventually killed by Hector. Book 17: Greeks and Trojans fiercely fight over Patroclus’ body; Hector takes Achilles’ armour, but the Greeks manage to recover and protect Patroclus’ corpse.

Book 14: Hera distracts Zeus with the help of Aphrodite and Sleep, allowing Poseidon to aid the Greeks, who drive the Trojans back and wound Hector. Book 15: Zeus awakens, orders Poseidon to withdraw, restores Trojan momentum through Apollo's support, and Hector leads the renewed assault on the Greek ships.

Book 12: The Trojans breach the Greek wall after fierce fighting, with Hector leading the assault despite ominous signs. Book 13: While Zeus looks away, Poseidon secretly encourages the Greeks, who rally under leaders such as Ajax and resist the Trojan advance in intense fighting by the ships.

Book 10: Odysseus and Diomedes undertake a night raid on the Trojan camp, killing the spy Dolon and several sleeping Thracians before stealing their horses. Book 11: Agamemnon fights bravely but is wounded, many Greek leaders are injured, and the Trojans press their advantage, prompting Patroclus to visit the wounded Nestor and setting in motion the events that lead to his return to battle.

Book 8: Zeus forbids the other gods from intervening and grants the Trojans the upper hand, driving the Greeks back to their ships as Hector prepares for a final assault. Book 9: With the Greeks in crisis, Agamemnon sends Odysseus, Ajax, and Phoenix to persuade Achilles to return to battle, but Achilles refuses despite their gifts and appeals.

Book 6: Hector returns to Troy, urges the women to pray to Athena, meets his wife Andromache and infant son Astyanax in a moving farewell, then returns to battle despite knowing the likely fate of the city. Book 7: Hector duels Ajax in an evenly matched contest that ends at nightfall with an exchange of gifts, after which both sides pause to bury their dead and the Greeks strengthen their camp with a defensive wall.

Book 4: The truce collapses when Pandarus wounds Menelaus at Athena's prompting, and Agamemnon rallies the Greek leaders as the battle begins in earnest. Book 5: Diomedes, empowered by Athena, fights with extraordinary courage, wounds Aphrodite and Ares, and dominates the battlefield in one of the Greeks' greatest displays of heroism.

Scroll 2: Zeus deceives Agamemnon into expecting victory, the Greek army is assembled after Odysseus restores order, and Homer lists the Greek and Trojan forces. Scroll 3: Paris agrees to duel Menelaus for Helen, Menelaus wins, but Aphrodite rescues Paris, so the war continues.

Scroll 1