# Book XXI: The Battle in the River Scamander explained — The Iliad > Chapter companion for The Iliad by Homer. ## What happens Achilles continues his rampage against the Trojans, driving them into the River Scamander (Xanthus). The river god, enraged by the corpses choking his waters, rises against Achilles and nearly overwhelms him. With divine aid from Poseidon and Athena, and later from Hephaestus' fire, Achilles overcomes the river and resumes his slaughter, including the killing of Asteropaeus, a son of the river Axius. ## Themes in this chapter ### Wrath and Its Consequences Achilles' unrelenting fury leads to the desecration of the river and a confrontation with a god. ### The Role of the Gods Multiple gods intervene: Poseidon and Athena aid Achilles, Hera commands Hephaestus, and Scamander acts as a divine adversary. ### Heroism and Mortality Achilles faces a near-death experience from a natural force, highlighting the limits of even the greatest mortal hero. ## Character check-ins ### Achilles Continues his relentless slaughter of Trojans, fights the River Scamander, and kills Asteropaeus. ### Hector Mentioned as the target Achilles seeks to face after driving the Trojans into the city. ### Asteropaeus Paeonian leader who confronts Achilles and is killed after a brief duel. ### Scamander The river god Xanthus, who rises against Achilles and is eventually subdued by Hephaestus' fire. ### Hera Calls upon Hephaestus to use fire against the river Scamander. ### Hephaestus Sends flames to dry the plain and scorch the river, forcing Scamander to yield. ### Poseidon Appears in human form to encourage Achilles during his struggle with the river. ### Athena Strengthens Achilles and appears with Poseidon to reassure him. ## Key lines > Fear not, Pelides, neither let thy heart Be troubled, since thou hast among the gods, By Jove’s consent, auxiliars such as I And Pallas. Do not be afraid, Achilles, because you have gods like me and Athena as your allies, with Zeus's permission. _Poseidon and Athena reassure Achilles during his struggle with the river._ > It is not thy doom to be Thus vanquished by a river. It is not your fate to be defeated by a river. _Divine reassurance that Achilles' destiny is not to die in the river._ > Let not thy hand Refrain from slaughter till the Trojan host Are all shut up—all that escape thy arm— Within the lofty walls of Troy. Do not stop killing until all the Trojans who survive are trapped inside Troy's walls. _Poseidon instructs Achilles to continue his assault until the Trojans are confined to the city._ > Then take The life of Hector, and return on board Thy galleys; we will make that glory thine. Then kill Hector and return to your ships; we will ensure you get the glory. _The gods promise Achilles the honor of killing Hector._ > O brother, join with me to hold in check This man, who threatens soon to overthrow King Priam’s noble city; for no more The Trojan host resist him. Brother Simois, help me stop this man who is about to destroy Troy, because the Trojans can no longer resist him. _Scamander calls on the river Simois for aid against Achilles._ > His strength, I deem, Will not avail him, nor his noble form, Nor those resplendent arms, which yet shall lie Scattered along the bottom of my gulfs, And foul with ooze. I think his strength, beauty, and armor will not help him; his arms will lie at the bottom of my river, covered in mud. _Scamander boasts that he will overcome Achilles and despoil him._ > Vulcan, my son, arise! We deemed that thou And eddying Xanthus were of equal might In battle. Come with instant aid, and bring Thy vast array of flames. Hephaestus, my son, get up! We thought you and the river Xanthus were equally powerful. Come quickly with your fire. _Hera summons Hephaestus to fight the river with fire._ > O Vulcan, there is none of all the gods Who may contend with thee. I combat not With fires like thine. Cease then. Hephaestus, no god can fight you. I cannot battle your fire. Stop. _Scamander surrenders to Hephaestus, acknowledging his superior power._ > Be it as thou commandest, foster-child Of Jove, Scamander! Yet I shall not cease To slay these treaty-breakers till at length I shut them up within their town, and force Hector to meet me. As you wish, Scamander, but I will not stop killing these truce-breakers until I trap them in Troy and force Hector to face me. _Achilles agrees to leave the river but vows to continue his mission._ > Who and whence art thou that dost venture thus To meet me? They who seek to measure strength With me are sons of most unhappy men. Who are you and where are you from, daring to face me? Those who challenge me are born from unhappy parents. _Achilles taunts Asteropaeus before their duel._ > Lie there! A perilous task it was for thee To combat with a son of Jove, though born Thyself to a great River. Lie there! It was dangerous for you to fight a descendant of Zeus, even if you are the son of a great river. _Achilles boasts over the slain Asteropaeus, emphasizing his divine lineage._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxi-the-battle-in-the-river-scamander - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters