Disclaimer: I am not an ancient Greek scholar. For the full disclaimer, read here.
“For my own part I shall stay here seated on Mt. Olympus and look on in peace, but do you others go about among the Trojans and Achaeans, and help either side as you may be severally disposed. If Achilles fights the Trojans without hindrance they will make no stand against him; they have ever trembled at the sight of him…”
Iliad, Book 20; Samuel Butler translation
Book 20 Summary
Zeus calls a council and most of the gods show up. He instructs them to take a side in the war and fight for that side, fearing that Achilles will storm and sack Troy before the allotted time. The gods pick their sides and even pick their opponents in the ensuing battle. Apollo encourages Aeneas to confront Achilles but Achilles almost kills him. Aeneas is only spared because Poseidon snatches him out of the battle and places him somewhere else on the field, warning him not to fight on the front lines anymore until Achilles is dead.
Achilles spurs the Achaeans on to fight and Hector encourages the Trojans, telling them he will confront Achilles himself. Apollo tells Hector to avoid confronting Achilles and stay out of the bulk of the fighting. Hector obeys at first, but when Achilles begins to massacre the Trojans, killing one of Hector’s brothers in the process, he confronts Achilles and throws a spear at him. After Athena causes the spear to miss, Achilles leaps at Hector to kill him but Apollo protects him and whisks him away. Achilles, frustrated that the one man he wants to kill is being protected by one of the gods, goes on to kill more Trojans.
For a list of the major characters, with Greek and Latin names, go here.
The Keepers Of Fate
Throughout this journey, I’ve been talking about the so-called “divine conspiracy” (Book 3, Book 4). I’ve even hinted at an underlying reason why the gods are doing what they’re doing (Book 13, Book 15, Book 16, Book 17). Read all of those sections if you need a refresher of all the evidence I have gathered so far.
I’ve dropped a lot of hints as to what I think is really going on. There are two facets to my theory, which is not really my theory, and one of those facets was hinted at before, but now explicitly stated in Book 20.
The long awaited moment has arrived. Achilles is about to enter the battlefield. Zeus calls an emergency meeting with all of the gods. This includes minor river gods and nymphs. This is what Zeus tells them:
“If Achilles fights the Trojans without hindrance they will make no stand against him; they have ever trembled at the sight of him, and now that he is roused to such fury about his comrade, he will override fate itself and storm their city.”
Iliad, Book 20; Samuel Butler translation
Wait, what?!
Achilles will override fate?
So, without the intervention of the gods, mortals can defy fate? Or just certain mortals (such as offspring of the gods)?
Here’s some more evidence I’ve collected on this matter:
While Agamemnon is doing his stupid loyalty test in Book 2, and the Achaeans are packing up to go home, Hera and Athena intervene to prevent them from leaving. However, this is what the Iliad starts with in this scene:
Then surely the Argives would have returned after a fashion that was not fated.
Iliad, Book 2; Samuel Butler translation
So, if Hera and Athena hadn’t intervened, the Achaeans would have gone against fate and gone home rather than fight the Trojans?
Hector could have burned down the Achaeans’ ships had not Hera intervened:
“He would even have set fire to the ships and burned them, had not Queen Juno put it into the mind of Agamemnon, to bestir himself and to encourage the Achaeans.”
Iliad, Book 8; Samuel Butler translation
Zeus considers saving his son Sarpedon’s life, but Hera rebukes him:
"Most dread son of Saturn, what is this that you are saying? Would you snatch a mortal man, whose doom has long been fated, out of the jaws of death? Do as you will, but we shall not all of us be of your mind.”
Iliad, Book 16; Samuel Butler translation
Sarpedon is fated to die. Zeus cannot interfere with that.
Another example of the Achaeans possibly defying fate:
“The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and driven back to Ilius through their own cowardice, while the Achaeans, so great was their courage and endurance, would have achieved a triumph even against the will of Jove, if Apollo had not roused Aeneas…”
Iliad, Book 17; Samuel Butler translation
There’s one more example from Book 20 about someone’s fate, and how it was almost defied, but it deserves its own section. That man is also a son of one of the gods.
Lastly, I want to reemphasize that in Book 16 it says that Patroclus would have sacked Troy, against fate, had not Apollo intervened. This intervention directly leads to Patroclus’ death.
So, we get this picture that the gods, particularly the Olympians, and particularly Zeus, are some sort of keepers of fate. They seem obligated, or compelled, to make sure fate runs its course. They will even directly intervene if necessary.
It’s interesting to think about. There’s this… force, or concept, or law of the universe… above the gods. Something that they must keep from being violated above all else. Something they dare not allow the mortals violate, nor violate themselves.
However, the Iliad seems to imply mortals, or maybe just the offspring of the gods, can defy fate.
If all mortals, then this is what makes them special, what sets them apart from the gods. Maybe that’s why the gods keep the mortals under their thumbs? For jealousy? Or perhaps something catastrophic would happen should fate be defied?
If just the offspring of the gods, this is what makes them aberrations and unnatural. They are why the gods have to intervene. This could also be why these offspring no longer exist by Homer’s time, why they are from a distant past. And also, this could be why the gods don’t intervene like they do in the legends.
No More Teasing
Okay, so I’ve laid down both facets of my theory:
The gods are constantly intervening to make sure the war keeps going on.
They direct one side, then the other, to make bad decisions. The two notable examples:
Zeus’ deceptive dream to Agamemnon which causes him to attack the Trojans prematurely (Book 2).
Hector and the Trojans refusing to listen to Polydamus’ counsel, choosing to camp outside rather than return to Troy after it’s found out Achilles will return to battle (“for Pallas Minerva had robbed them of their understanding”; Book 18).
They give one side the advantage, then the other, over and over.
Zeus intentionally makes sure stalemates happen (Book 11, general fighting; Book 17, over the body of Patroclus).
They keep certain men alive who go on to change the tide of the war or kill lots of other men (Agamemnon, Diomedes, Hector, Aeneas)
They prevent people from causing an event to happen “prematurely” (like the sacking of Troy or returning home)
The gods are making sure fate runs its course. Sometimes, they’ll even directly intervene.
Hera and Athena intervene to keep the Achaeans from sailing home
Apollo intervenes to make sure Patroclus doesn’t sack Troy, then disorients him and strips him of his armor so he’ll be killed
Zeus telling the gods to enter the war to keep Achilles from sacking Troy, who is not fated to sack it (see Apollo’s warning to Patroclus in Book 16)
My theory is that the gods want the Trojan War in order for the earth to be less populated. Or rather, the compelling force called Fate wants there to be less people and the gods are carrying it out.
Sure, the gods have their grudges (particularly Hera and Athena), but they don’t seem to be serious enough about them. I don’t think Hera and Athena try nearly as hard as they could to help the Achaeans win. Zeus steps in to make sure things run their course and keeps the gods from doing whatever they want, but he also does stupid things like stop paying attention to the war and getting seduced by Hera. And it wasn’t until a convenient time that Zeus comes to his sense and carries on with his duties.
The final two pieces of evidence, though these are a bit weaker, are:
Fighting an entire ten year war over one woman is absolutely ridiculous. Who would agree to that? Plus, should a large army be raised for such a purpose, why wouldn’t the Trojans—whom it’s very clear have the disadvantage and are not as warrior like as the Achaeans—allow Helen to be kept by them? Especially since they didn’t want the war either? The only way such things would happen is if: 1) Helen is actually some super weapon or has something life changing that would compel whole nations to possess her; or 2) Some compelling force has made them lose their minds.
Agamemnon’s behavior toward Achilles is completely ridiculous. Who in their right mind would treat their strongest warrior that way? A warrior whom everyone admits would easily end the war if they fought in it? Agamemnon mentions in Book 19 that Zeus robbed him of his senses and that’s why he did what he did. I criticized him for not taking responsibility for his actions, but if his words are taken at face value, maybe Zeus really did rob him of his sense? All so Achilles would stay out of the war? And with Achilles out of the war, it could be prolonged even further. And then by having his best friend killed and him feeling guilt and anger over it, he’ll spare no Trojan until he gets his revenge (this will point be driven home in Book 21).
For me, all of this adds up to a divine conspiracy. That conspiracy being the gods, though they take different sides in the war, are actually working together to make this war more destructive than it normally would have been. All in an effort to reduce the amount of mortals on the earth. And they are doing this on the behest of Fate.
Why does Fate want this outcome? That’s the scarier question. My best guess is to get rid of as many offspring of the gods as possible because these offspring can defy fate. And who knows what kind of disasters that would bring? Or perhaps there would be no disasters, but Fate still must be in charge regardless?
The Trojan War is a corrective. A corrective for the blunders the gods made with all of their procreating. Their mess is being cleaned up, and the mortals are suffering for it.
Or it’s mass population control, one of the two.
Finally, Some Good News For The Trojans
Okay, my crazy theorizing is over. Sort of. This was the one piece of evidence I mentioned earlier, about how someone’s fate was almost defied but it deserved its own section.
This is actually the first piece of good news for the Trojans. We already know Troy is fated to be sacked, many people will die, and the rest will be enslaved.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Here is what Poseidon says about Aeneas:
“It is fated, moreover, that he should escape, and that the race of Dardanus, whom Jove loved above all the sons born to him of mortal women, shall not perish utterly without seed or sign. For now indeed has Jove hated the blood of Priam, while Aeneas shall reign over the Trojans, he and his children’s children that shall be born hereafter.”
Iliad, Book 20; Samuel Butler translation
Poseidon rescues him from Achilles and tells him not to go on the front lines again until Achilles is dead. This is the last appearance of Aeneas in the Iliad.
It makes sense why Aeneas was rescued from death two times now. It’s his destiny to survive the Trojan War and “reign over the Trojans,” implying there will be other survivors who will escape the Achaeans.
Centuries later, this passage becomes the foundation for the Aeneid.
I’m surprised Hera and Athena were okay with this. But, if it was fate, there’s not much they could do about it.
Seriously, Teachers. Teenagers Will Eat This Up. Trust Me. (Dark Humor Incoming)
I want to end with some brutal fight scenes between Achilles and some Trojans. Who needs ‘80s action movies and God of War video games when you have the Iliad?
(I think those are all great, by the way, I’m just saying…)
He’s going to feel that in the morning.
“Achilles struck him full on the head as he was coming on towards him, and split it clean in two.”
Iliad, Book 20; Samuel Butler translation
And to the same guy:
“The chariots of the Achaeans cut him up as their wheels passed over him in the front of the battle”
Iliad, Book 20; Samuel Butler translation
I don’t think those are going back in.
“The point of the spear pierced him through and came out by the navel, whereon he fell groaning on to his knees and a cloud of darkness overshadowed him as he sank holding his entrails in his hands.”
Iliad, Book 20; Samuel Butler translation
The guy didn’t need it anyway.
“Achilles drove his sword into his liver, and the liver came rolling out…”
Iliad, Book 20; Samuel Butler translation
This is why you shouldn’t let others clean your ears.
“Achilles then went up to Mulius and struck him on the ear with a spear, and the bronze spear-head came right out at the other ear…”
Iliad, Book 20; Samuel Butler translation
Fly ball!
“Achilles cut his head off with a blow from his sword and flung it helmet and all away from him, and the marrow came oozing out of his backbone as he lay.”
Iliad, Book 20; Samuel Butler translation
Okay, that’s enough of my dark humor. There will be more of these in Book 21. If you are into the epic and brutal fight scenes, you’ll be in for a treat.
That’s all for Book 20 of the Iliad.
May your days be filled with grace.
-Andronikos
The booklist I am going through can be found here.
If you want to learn a little more about the Iliad, I have a page devoted to it.
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Thumbnail: Departure of Achilles to Avenge Patroclus by Charles-Antoine Coypel. Created 1723. Taken from the Louvre.