Book VII

Hector and Paris return to battle, slaying Greeks, which prompts divine intervention.

Apollo and Minerva agree to halt the battle and inspire Hector to challenge a Greek hero.

Hector halts the fighting and issues a formal challenge for a single combat, stating the terms.

Menelaus accepts Hector's challenge in anger, but Agamemnon persuades him to stand down.

Nestor rebukes the hesitant Greeks and recounts his own youthful victory over Ereuthalion.

Spurred by Nestor, nine Greek heroes stand to accept the challenge, and they decide by lot.

The lot falls to Ajax, who rejoices and dons his armor as the Achaeans pray for his victory.

Ajax advances with his great shield, and the two heroes taunt each other before beginning the fight.

Hector and Ajax fight fiercely, exchanging spear thrusts and blows from massive stones, until Apollo revives Hector.

Heralds intervene as night falls, and Hector and Ajax agree to end their duel, exchanging gifts as a sign of respect.

The heroes return to their camps, and Nestor advises the Greeks to call a truce for burials and build a defensive wall.

Antenor proposes returning Helen, but Paris refuses, offering only treasure; Priam proposes a truce for burials.

The Trojan herald proposes Paris's offer, which Diomedes urges the Greeks to reject, and Agamemnon agrees only to a truce for burials.

Both armies observe a truce to burn their dead, after which the Greeks build a fortified wall around their camp.

Neptune complains about the Greeks' new wall, but Jupiter assures him it will eventually be destroyed.

While both armies feast, Jupiter sends thunder and lightning as signs of his displeasure.