Zeus descends to Mount Ida and weighs the fates on his golden scales, which tip in favor of the Trojans. His lightning sends the Achaeans fleeing in terror, and though Agamemnon’s tearful prayer moves Zeus to send an eagle as a sign that briefly rallies them, Hector’s Trojans drive them back behind their trench. Zeus turns back Hera and Athena with a threat and foretells that Hector will prevail until Achilles returns to battle, while the Trojans light a thousand watch fires on the plain to await dawn.