Achilles cuts the Trojan army in two, Remaining Trojans flle to Troy

Book 21

Achilles cuts the Trojan army in two; one-half flees over the plain towards Troy and the other half in trapped in a river. He proceeds to massacre those in the river, not before he captures twelve Trojan princes to sacrifice in revenge for the death of Patroclus. The river runs red with the blood of slain Trojans. To the point where the river takes human form and says enough already in so many words, the river Scamander tells Achilles the do his grim work on land. The river rises up and floods where Achilles is standing, and is about to sweep him away. Hera and Hephaestus come to Achilles aid, Hephaestus kindles a huge fire that causes the river to boil, and the river stops. The next thing that happens must be for comic relief, now all the other gods start to fight, Zeus thinks this is funny and he laughs. Meanwhile the remaining Trojans are fleeing towards Troy; King Priam orders the gates opened so the men can get inside the city. Agenor with the help of Apollo keeps Achilles out of the city. Apollo saves Agenor by hiding him in a cloud, and taking the form of Agenor leads Achilles away. The rest of the Trojan army pours into the city exhausted and terrified.