The Iliad, Books 2-5

Hector

Paris

Sarpedon

Glaucus

​Aeneas​

Trojans

Ajax

Menelaus

Agamemnon

Achilles​

Odysseus​

Greeks

Some text here about the topic of discussion

A Duel to Decide It All

Hector, Paris's brother, challenges Paris to fight Menelaus one-on-one to decide the outcome of the war.

Paris agrees to the fight (after Hector calls him a coward for not wanting to fight).

Agamemnon says that Priam must meet with him and sacrifice a sheep before it is a done deal.​

Priam and Agamemnon agree that the duel will decide who wins the war; neither side will interfere; the winner gets Helen (& her riches) and everyone goes home.

Book IV: The Duel

Book IV: The Duel

Paris is chosen to throw his spear first; his spear hits Menelaus's shield and the tip breaks. Menelaus throws his spear, which tears through Paris's shield and into his armor, but doesn't injure him.

They then draw swords and duel. Menelaus is the better warrior, and he injures Paris. Then, he begins dragging Paris to the Greek side by his helmet, which is choking Paris.​

While he's getting dragged, Venus (Aphrodite) appears and cuts the chin strap on Paris's helmet, freeing him. This angers Menelaus, who charges him. Venus surrounds them with a golden mist and whisks Paris off to his room.

Book IV: The Duel

​Athena tricks the Trojans

After Aphrodite saves Paris, Menelaus and the Greeks demand that Helen be handed over, claiming that Paris lost. Athena doesn't like this quick end to the war, so she disguises herself as a Trojan soldier and approaches Pandarus, a Trojan archer, and tells him to shoot Menelaus.