e. This deciding of the outcome is often described as a misthrown spear, a shield that shatters, weak armor, or weapons breaking. When Menelaus and Paris duel in book 3 of the Iliad, Paris is saved from being asphxiated by Aphrodite breaking his helmet strap but Aphrodite, , Zeuss daughter quick to the mark, snapped the rawhide strap ( Iliad, book 3, lines 433-434). The Gods choose who lives and dies by deciding these factors in the battle. When Achilles and Hector fight to the death in book 22 of the Iliad, Achilles has Athena on his side, while Hector is alone. In the course of battle Hectors spear is moved from its mark, while Achilles is guided toward it (Iliad, book 22). Athena did not kill Hector directly, but she decided that he would die. During the battle scenes Athena grants Achilles victory, by tipping the odds in his favor.On the flip side of helping the heroes the gods often play the antagonist. A good example of this deals with Poseidons role as the antagonist in the Odyssey. Poseidon, the god of the sea, has cursed Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops (Odyssey, book 9). Poseidon plays the antagonist, and provides conflict for Odysseus throughout the entire epic. In this incarnation, Poseidon is less anthropomorphic, and more of a force of nature, something that Odysseus has no hope of fighting against. Although Poseidon brings much misery to Odysseus, the great hero somehow manages to perceiver. Therefore, it can be stated that by providing conflict, Poseidon brought out the heroic qualities in Odysseus. When the God plays the antagonist, or provides the conflict for the hero, it brings out the heroic qualities within the hero. Odysseus is not a hero because he is a great warrior, he is a hero because he fought against hopeless odds and succeeded. The following type of physical interaction is rare in Greek Mythology; when a mortal attacks the Gods themselves. The fury of Diomedes is an interesting example of thi...
