Why is zeus unable to save hector

Would like to save him, but won't. Doesn't like the war, but won't stop it. He traps Ares and Aphrodite in bed together--the gods laugh at Hephaestus for publisizing his being culkholded. Homer accused of making his gods act like mortals and his mortals act like gods.

Plato would banish him for telling lies about the gods. Gods sometimes portrayed as characters in the story, sometimes are inpersonal forces. Ares the swaggering braggart vs Ares the personification of war.

The Greeks seem to win for a while. Diomedes emerges to defeat the Trojans, under the help of Athene. Diomedes goes up against a boy--an ally from the Trojan side--Aeneas probably 16 years old here. Later when Achilles is running amok, Aeneas tries to stand up to him. They take Aeneas away.

Achilles is sitting at the boats. Messengers find him singing stories about gods and men, like a bard. Greeks are cowering behind the wall. Trojans are camping outside the wall.

Know the Greek leaders aren't fighting. Next day, Hector smashes the gates and the Trojans surge inside to attack the Greeks and burn their ships. Patroclus has been urging Achilles to fight.

Achilles says he hopes the Trojans kill them all. Let me wear your armor. OK -- just go where the Trojans can see you. Don't do any serious fighting. Hector finishes him off. Gets the armor. Other Greeks get to seem the best for a time. Today was Patroclus' day.

Only defeated by Apollo. Achilles was normally pretty well-balanced and rational. Achilles is angry beyond measure against the Trojans, esp. Hector, for killing Patroclus. Was like a big brother to Achilles. Gets new set of armor.

Now slaughters the Trojans. Takes a few prisoners to use as sacrifice for Patroclus' burial. Re-catches someone he had captured and ransomed before. Asks to be spared again--not this time, says Achilles. Why is he so angry? Guilt --let his best friend fight alone. Hector has had a parting scene with his wife Andromache and their son Astyanax. She begs him not to go face Achilles; he says he has to. If it is your time, you can't run away anyway.

Therefore the best thing is to fight bravely. Hunts down Hector, who tries to flee. All the heroes experience fear.

Achilles has to run from the river. Athene disguises herself as Hector's brother. Achilles makes this statement to Hector after mortally wounding him to avenge his friend, Patroclus, whom Hector had killed while Patroclus wore Achilles armor. Achilles was not present in battle when Hector killed his friend, yet Achilles influenced the battle and Hector should have known that Achilles would avenge the act and kill Hector. She took him to a cave on Mt Ida, where some nymphs and satyrs brought him up.

Depends on which tale you take. One story tells of her being raped by Zeus and she married him to save face. Another she willing choose him.

Another they choose each other. Log in. The Iliad. Study now. See Answer. Best Answer. Study guides. The Odyssey 30 cards. Who is proteus. What did Telemachus do after he gave his speech to the assembly. What did the gods call the herb that Odysseus took to protect himself from Circe.

Who is the father of Odysseus. Q: Why does Zeus decline to save hector in The Iliad? Write your answer Related questions. Why is Zeus unable to save hector? What does Zeus what to do about Sarpedon? Why did Zeus want to save sarpedon? What was Hermes greatest accomplishment? How did Zeus save his brothers and sisters from captivity? Who returns to Olympus to ask Zeus to save Odysseus?

Did Zeus save Hades? Did Hector receive favours from the gods? How did Rhea trick Cronus to save her son Zeus? Who helped Zeus save his siblings? Where to find The Iliad to read online? He then asks Hera to summon Iris and Apollo. Iris goes to order Poseidon to leave the battlefield, which Poseidon reluctantly agrees to do, while Apollo seeks out Hector and fills him and his comrades with fresh strength.

Hector leads a charge against the Achaeans, and while their leaders initially hold their ground, they retreat in terror when Apollo himself enters the battle. Apollo covers over the trench in front of the Greek fortifications, allowing the Trojans to beat down the ramparts once again.

The armies fight all the way to the ships and very nearly into the Greek camp. At the base of the ships, furious hand-to-hand fighting breaks out. Great Ajax and Hector again tangle. The archer Teucer fells several Trojans, but Zeus snaps his bowstring when he takes aim at Hector. Ajax encourages his troops from the decks of the ships, but Hector rallies the Trojans, and inch by inch the Trojans advance until Hector is close enough to touch a ship. Achilles declines to fight but agrees to the exchange of armor, with the understanding that Patroclus will fight only long enough to save the ships.

As Patroclus arms himself, the first ship goes up in flames. He then prays to Zeus that Patroclus may return with both himself and the ships unharmed. The poet reveals, however, that Zeus will grant only one of these prayers. At first, the line holds together, but when Hector retreats, the rest of the Trojans become trapped in the trenches. Patroclus now slaughters every Trojan he encounters.

Zeus considers saving his son Sarpedon, but Hera persuades him that the other gods would either look down upon him for it or try to save their own mortal offspring in turn. Patroclus soon spears Sarpedon, and both sides fight over his armor. Hector returns briefly to the front in an attempt to retrieve the armor.