Editing Iliad (section)

=== The Gods Join the Battle (Ἰλιάς Ι - Iliás I) ===
The narrative escalates dramatically after Zeus lifts the ban on divine intervention, allowing the gods to join the battle on the side of their choosing. This decree unleashes a chaotic and spectacular clash of divine powers on the Trojan plains, as gods fight alongside and against mortals. As we have seen, many of the gods have specific mortal heroes whom they patronize, and they are invested in the success and glory of these individuals. By intervening in the battle, they attempt to ensure that their proteges achieve the greatest possible κλέος ('''kleos''', glory) and τιμή ('''timē''', honor). While the gods can influence events and provide advantages to their favored heroes, they cannot alter the ultimate course of fate. This creates a tension between the gods' desires and the fixed outcomes known to Zeus (and sometimes to other deities through prophecy). The Iliad makes it clear that certain events are fated to happen, such as the fall of Troy and the death of Achilles. However, the exact path to these outcomes is fluid, allowing for divine and human actions to shape the journey toward these predestined ends. Heroes strive for glory on the battlefield, often seen as a measure of divine favor and personal valor; the gods' interventions can amplify a hero's achievements, making it appear as though these accomplishments are the result of personal prowess and divine support rather than the inexorable unfolding of fate. This dynamic creates an interesting illusion of agency, where heroes and observers might believe that the outcomes of battles and individual confrontations are the result of skill, strategy, and divine favor, even when they unfold within the constraints of fate.

Free of Zeus' constraints, Ares enters the fray to support the Trojans, while Athena aids the Achaeans, each enhancing the prowess and morale of their respective sides. Apollo, supporting the Trojans, faces off against Poseidon, who aids the Achaeans; their confrontation mirrors the broader conflict and emphasizes the cosmic scale of the war. The rivalry even extends to Hera and Artemis. Empowered by his new armor and divine support, Achilles becomes an unstoppable force on the battlefield; his return shifts the momentum towards the Achaeans, instilling fear among their enemy. Achilles' presence is so dominant that he even challenges the gods supporting Troy. This sets the stage for imminent duels between Achilles and Trojan heroes, including his fated confrontation with Hector.