book 20

In the beginning of book 20, Zeus tells all the other gods to go down and take sides with either the trojans or the achaians. "So spoke the son of Kronos and woke the incessant battle, and the gods went down to enter the fighting with purposes opposed." (lines 31-32) The gods would have rather watched the fighting take place instead of participating. In the previous book, zeus had told the other gods not to interfere. Now, he tells them to go down and help either side: the trojans or the achaians. This decision was because of Achilleus. I was surprised to see Poseidon tell the other gods "Let us then go away and sit down together off the path at a viewing place, and let the men do take care of their fighting." (lines 136-137) Poseidon goes against zeus's command. "But come, let us ourselves get him away form death , for fear the son of Kronos may be angered if now Achilleus kills this man. It is destined that he shall be the survivor..." (lines 300-308) There is a reason that zeus wants  Aineias to survive. I like how Poseidon is takng a more active role in this book.