HOMER: The Iliad [Book XIV]

In Book XIV of Homer’s Iliad, Jove oversees the war from the top of Mt. Ida. Recall that Jove forbade all other gods from interfering in the war. To get around Jove’s prohibition, Juno contrives a plan by which she will seduce Jove in order to distract him from the war just long enough for Neptune to aid the Greeks. “She deemed that it would be best for her to go to Ida and array herself in rich attire, in the hope that Jove might become enamoured of her, and wish to embrace her. While he was thus engaged a sweet and careless sleep might be made to steal over his eyes and senses.”

HOMER: The Iliad [Book XIII]

In Book XIII of Homer’s Iliad, the god Neptune begins to assist the Greeks. He assumes the shape of the Greek prophet Calchas and encourages the Greek soldiers to defend their ships from the approaching Trojans. The Greek troops, led by the two Ajaxes, form a phalanx and repel the initial Trojan attack.

HOMER: The Iliad [Book XII]

In Book XII of Homer’s Iliad, the Greeks retreat behind their newly constructed fortifications. The Trojan horses refuse to cross the ditch, in front of the Greek walls, so the Trojans dismount from their chariots, form five groups, and begin the attack.

HOMER: The Iliad [Book XI]

In Book XI of Homer’s Iliad, dawn arrives and the opposing armies prepare for battle. Agamemnon leads the first charge of Greeks against the Trojans. He kills numerous Trojans, sending the majority of the army fleeing back to Troy. When Jove sees Agamemnon routing the Trojans, he sends his messenger Iris to the Trojan Prince Hector. Iris instructs Hector to fight defensively until Agamemnon is wounded. Then Hector can lead a charge against the Greeks.

HOMER: The Iliad [Book X]

In Book X of Homer’s Iliad, Agamemnon summons the Greek generals after learning that Achilles did not accept his apology. The leaders decide to send scouts through the Trojan camp at night to learn the Trojan’s intentions and the composition of their army. Diomedes volunteers for this dangerous reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines and chooses Ulysses as his companion.