--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: so evenly was strained their war and…" description: "\"“so evenly was strained their war and battle, till the moment when Zeus gave the greater renown to Hector, son of Priam, who was the first to leap with..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/homer-357_famous_so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-bat_342050.png" --- # so evenly was strained their war and battle, till the… ![“so evenly was strained their war and battle, till the moment when Zeus gave the greater renown to Hector, son of Priam, who was the first to leap within the wall of the Achaians. In a piercing voice he cried aloud to the Trojans: "Rise, ye horse-taming Trojans, break the wall of the Argives, and…” quote by Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/homer-357_famous_so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-bat_342050.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/homer-357_famous_so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-bat_342050.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/homer-357_famous_so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-bat_342050.png) > ““so evenly was strained their war and battle, till the moment when Zeus gave the greater renown to Hector, son of Priam, who was the first to leap within the wall of the Achaians. In a piercing voice he cried aloud to the Trojans: "Rise, ye horse-taming Trojans, break the wall of the Argives, and cast among the ships fierce blazing fire." So spake he, spurring them on, and they all heard him with their ears, and in one mass rushed straight against the wall, and with sharp spears in their hands climbed upon the machicolations of the towers. And Hector seized and carried a stone that lay in front of the gates, thick in the hinder part, but sharp at point: a stone that not the two best men of the people, such as mortals now are, could lightly lift from the ground on to a wain, but easily he wielded it alone, for the son of crooked-counselling Kronos made it light for him. And as when a shepherd lightly beareth the fleece of a ram, taking it in one hand, and little doth it burden him, so Hector lifted the stone, and bare it straight against the doors that closely guarded the stubborn-set portals, double gates and tall, and two cross bars held them within, and one bolt fastened them. And he came, and stood hard by, and firmly planted himself, and smote them in the midst, setting his legs well apart, that his cast might lack no strength. And he brake both the hinges, and the stone fell within by reason of its weight, and the gates rang loud around, and the bars held not, and the doors burst this way and that beneath the rush of the stone. Then glorious Hector leaped in, with face like the sudden night, shining in wondrous mail that was clad about his body, and with two spears in his hands. No man that met him could have held him back when once he leaped within the gates: none but the gods, and his eyes shone with fire. Turning towards the throng he cried to the Trojans to overleap the wall, and they obeyed his summons, and speedily some overleaped the wall, and some poured into the fair-wrought gateways, and the Danaans fled in fear among the hollow ships, and a ceaseless clamour arose.”” [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hector demonstrates heroic strength by single‑handedly breaching the Trojan gates, inspiring his troops to surge forward. **In simple terms:** Hector’s bold action breaks the enemy’s defenses. Key Takeaway Courage can turn the tide of battle. Themes heroism leadership courage Mood dramatic epic Type historical mythic When to use this quote - military assaults - team motivation - crisis response Key Concepts mythology war strategy inspiration Questions to Reflect On - What risks are worth taking? - How does one inspire others through action? A Different Perspective Such feats may be mythic, not replicable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Iliad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iliad/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“And let Apollo drive Prince Hector back to battle, breathe power back in his lungs, make him forget the pain that racks his heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/and-let-apollo-drive-prince-hector-back-to-battle-breathe-power-back/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [And overpowered by memory Both men gave way to grief. Priam wept freely For man - killing Hector, throbbing, crouching Before Achilles' feet as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/and-overpowered-by-memory-both-men-gave-way-to-grief-priam-wept/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Zeus most glorious and most great, Thundercloud, throned in the heavens! Let not the sun go down and the darkness come, until I cast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/zeus-most-glorious-and-most-great-thundercloud-throned-in-the-heavens/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Lions don't come to terms with men, the wolf don't see eye to eye with the lamb - they are enemies to the end.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/lions-don-t-come-to-terms-with-men-the-wolf-don-t-see-eye-to-eye-with/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Upon the earth appear'd, weeping, they bore Brave Hector out; and on the fun'ral pile Laying the glorious dead, applied the torch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/upon-the-earth-appear-d-weeping-they-bore-brave-hector-out-and-on-the/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Yet while my Hector still survives, I see My father, mother, brethren, all in thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/yet-while-my-hector-still-survives-i-see-my-father-mother-brethren/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Better to live or die, once and for all, than die by inches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/better-to-live-or-die-once-and-for-all-than-die-by-inches/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [A generation of men is like a generation of leaves; the wind scatters some leaves upon the ground, while others the burgeoning wood brings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/a-generation-of-men-is-like-a-generation-of-leaves-the-wind-scatters/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [It is not unseemly for a man to die fighting in defense of his country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/it-is-not-unseemly-for-a-man-to-die-fighting-in-defense-of-his-country/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [He lives not long who battles with the immortals, nor do his children prattle about his knees when he has come back from battle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/he-lives-not-long-who-battles-with-the-immortals-nor-do-his-children/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [The god of war is impartial: he hands out death to the man who hands out death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-god-of-war-is-impartial-he-hands-out-death-to-the-man-who-hands/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [It is not possible to fight beyond your strength, even if you strive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/it-is-not-possible-to-fight-beyond-your-strength-even-if-you-strive/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“My friend Patroclus, whom I loved, is dead. I loved him more than any other comrade. I loved him like my head, my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/my-friend-patroclus-whom-i-loved-is-dead-i-loved-him-more-than-any/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [If you are very valiant, it is a god, I think, who gave you this gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/if-you-are-very-valiant-it-is-a-god-i-think-who-gave-you-this-gift/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [He knew the things that were and the things that would be and the things that had been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/he-knew-the-things-that-were-and-the-things-that-would-be-and-the/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) ## More by Homer > [He knew the things that were and the things that would be and the things that had been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/he-knew-the-things-that-were-and-the-things-that-would-be-and-the/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Few sons are like their fathers--most are worse, few better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/few-sons-are-like-their-fathers-most-are-worse-few-better/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/sing-in-me-muse-and-through-me-tell-the-story-of-that-man-skilled-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Hateful to me as are the gates of hell, Is he who, hiding one thing in his heart, Utters another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/hateful-to-me-as-are-the-gates-of-hell-is-he-who-hiding-one-thing-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“And Zeus said: “Hera, you can choose some other time for paying your visit to Oceanus — for the present let us devote ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/and-zeus-said-hera-you-can-choose-some-other-time-for-paying-your/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Ruin, eldest daughter of Zeus, she blinds us all, that fatal madness—she with those delicate feet of hers, never touching the earth, gliding over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ruin-eldest-daughter-of-zeus-she-blinds-us-all-that-fatal-madness-she/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Scepticism is as much the result of knowledge, as knowledge is of scepticism. To be content with what we at present know, is, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/scepticism-is-as-much-the-result-of-knowledge-as-knowledge-is-of/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Boy, everyone is stupid except me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/boy-everyone-is-stupid-except-me/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“With that the dream departed, leaving him there, his heart racing with hopes that would not come to pass. He thought he would take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/with-that-the-dream-departed-leaving-him-there-his-heart-racing-with/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Tell me, O Muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide after he had sacked the famous town of Troy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/tell-me-o-muse-of-that-ingenious-hero-who-travelled-far-and-wide/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Ah, beer, my one weakness. My Achille's heel, if you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ah-beer-my-one-weakness-my-achille-s-heel-if-you-will/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [My life is more to me than all the wealth of Ilius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/my-life-is-more-to-me-than-all-the-wealth-of-ilius/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Being popular is the most important thing in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/being-popular-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies And sure he will for Wisdom never lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/urge-him-with-truth-to-frame-his-fair-replies-and-sure-he-will-for/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) [Explore all 639 Homer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) ## More Famous quotes > [I think the most famous person I've ever met is Brad Pitt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-think-the-most-famous-person-i-ve-ever-met-is-brad-pitt/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. 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And Hector seized and carried a stone that lay in front of the gates, thick in the hinder part, but sharp at point: a stone that not the two best men of the people, such as mortals now are, could lightly lift from the ground on to a wain, but easily he wielded it alone, for the son of crooked-counselling Kronos made it light for him. And as when a shepherd lightly beareth the fleece of a ram, taking it in one hand, and little doth it burden him, so Hector lifted the stone, and bare it straight against the doors that closely guarded the stubborn-set portals, double gates and tall, and two cross bars held them within, and one bolt fastened them. And he came, and stood hard by, and firmly planted himself, and smote them in the midst, setting his legs well apart, that his cast might lack no strength. And he brake both the hinges, and the stone fell within by reason of its weight, and the gates rang loud around, and the bars held not, and the doors burst this way and that beneath the rush of the stone. Then glorious Hector leaped in, with face like the sudden night, shining in wondrous mail that was clad about his body, and with two spears in his hands. No man that met him could have held him back when once he leaped within the gates: none but the gods, and his eyes shone with fire. Turning towards the throng he cried to the Trojans to overleap the wall, and they obeyed his summons, and speedily some overleaped the wall, and some poured into the fair-wrought gateways, and the Danaans fled in fear among the hollow ships, and a ceaseless clamour arose.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Homer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-battle-till-the-moment-when-zeus/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Famous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-battle-till-the-moment-when-zeus/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/homer-357_famous_so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-bat_342050.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/homer-357_famous_so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-bat_342050.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/homer-357_famous_so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-bat_342050.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“so evenly was strained their war and battle, till the moment when Zeus gave the greater renown to Hector…” — Homer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Homer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“so evenly was strained their war...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-battle-till-the-moment-when-zeus/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/so-evenly-was-strained-their-war-and-battle-till-the-moment-when-zeus/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```