Book XIII

Jove, having helped Hector, turns his eyes from Troy, leaving the battle to its fate.

Seeing Jove look away, an incensed Neptune descends from the mountains and prepares his chariot.

Disguised as the seer Calchas, Neptune approaches the battle and exhorts the two Ajaces.

Neptune imbues the Ajaces with divine strength, and they recognize the godly intervention.

Neptune finds the routed Greeks and delivers a fiery speech, shaming them into fighting again.

The inspired Greeks form a dense phalanx to withstand the charge of Hector and the Trojans.

Hector is halted by the Greek phalanx, while Merion's spear breaks and Teucer kills Imbrius.

Hector kills Amphimachus while trying to kill Teucer, leading to a fierce struggle over the bodies.

Neptune, disguised as Thoas, finds Idomeneus and urges him to return to the fight.

Idomeneus arms himself for battle and meets Meriones, offering him a replacement spear from his tent.

Idomeneus praises Meriones' proven valor, describing the signs of a truly brave warrior in battle.

After Meriones takes a new spear, he and Idomeneus march to war and decide to fight on the left flank.

As the battle rages like a storm, the narrator explains the divine conflict between Jove and Neptune.

Idomeneus begins his rampage by killing and taunting Othryoneus, then slays Asius who attacks him.

After Deiphobus kills Hypsenor, Idomeneus stands his ground and kills the Trojan hero Alcathous.

Taunted by Idomeneus, Deiphobus decides not to fight alone and seeks help from Aeneas.

Aeneas is roused to fight Idomeneus, and both heroes call upon their comrades for support.

Idomeneus kills Oenomas but retreats from Aeneas, and Deiphobus's spear kills Ascalaphus, son of Mars.

Meriones wounds Deiphobus in the fight for Ascalaphus, while Aeneas, Antilochus, and Meriones kill more Trojans.

After Helenus kills a Greek, he and Menelaus fight, ending with Menelaus wounding Helenus's hand.

Menelaus kills Pisander in close combat and then delivers a furious speech denouncing the Trojans' perfidy.

Meriones kills Harpalion, whose death prompts Paris to shoot and kill the wealthy Euchenor.

Unaware of losses elsewhere, Hector remains fixed at the center, where the two Ajaces hold him in a stalemate.

Seeing the battle is at a stalemate, the sage Polydamas advises Hector to halt and convene a council.

Hector agrees to the council, goes to find the other chiefs, and angrily confronts Paris.

After Paris placates him, Hector rejoins the battle with him, leading the Trojan ranks forward.

Ajax challenges Hector, an eagle appears as an omen, and Hector replies with a boast before the armies roar.