Chapter 21: Achilles kills every
Trojan he sees without mercy. He forces the Trojans to retreat to the Scamander river. Achilles
even fights the river, which is god-like. The river defeats him, but leaves him alive. Achilles
leaves the river, and rides to the gates of Troy. The Trojans have retreated into the city walls.
Chapter 22: Achilles demands that
Hector fight him in single combat. Hector Agrees, although he is urged to stay by his father King
Priam and his wife. Achilles chases Hector around the city walls three times, and Hector is protected
by Athena posing as Deiphobus. Hector decides to stand and fight, and he believes he is being
protected by a benevolent god. Hector foolishly throws away his spear, and when he asks for another
one, there is no god to provide it, because Athena has abandoned him. Hector asks Achilles for
mercy in his death, but Achilles refuses, and tortures Hector before killing him. Achilles ties
Hector's body to his chariot, and rides around the gates of Troy three times with Hector's body dragging
behind.
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