Book 21 Summary

Achilles continues an almost murderous rampage, splitting the Trojans and driving some toward Troy and the rest toward the River. He concentrates on those at the river, killing as he goes, and then decides to choose twelve men to kill as a vengeance for the death of Patroklos. Leading them out of the water, he had them bound and led away to his ships to be dealt with later. Turning back to kill more men, he is merciless, and ends up glutting the river with blood and bodies. The river god, Xanthus, has had enough. He complains to Achilles and begs him to stop, but Achilles refuses. He continues to fill the river with his dead, until Xanthus comes after him with huge waves in retaliation. Achilles desperately tries to escape the river, but finally has to cry out to Zeus for help...