Throughout Homer's epic poem, The Iliad, the gods resemble and take on human characteristics. Although the gods are assumed to be divine entities incapable of human transgression, in the Iliad they are represented with all the flaws of mortals. The gods are a manifestation of human emotions and consequently help explain the behavior of humans in the Iliad. It is the actions of heroes that determine their fate, not divine intervention. Ultimately, humans in the Iliad have certain attributes that provide the reason for their behavior, while the gods follow suit, allowing humans to freely make their own choices. Although bestowed with the title of god, the text describes the gods as having flaws and mortal traits. Ruling gods, such as Zeus, exhibit prejudice, dishonor, betrayal, deceit, and many others. His heroic status and honor factor are enhanced by the fact that he is following a path of his own making. With each scene in which he makes his choices, he more and more fits his heroic description of "tall Hector with the flashing helmet led the Trojans, the son of Priam and at his command by far the greatest army and courageous" (2:927-928) ). Paris and Agamemnon who let themselves be led, however, are defined as fools because their actions are related to the defects of their character and cannot be traced back to the gods. The Iliad takes the pressure off humans, glorifying their emotions and choices. Humans blame the gods for the casualties of the war even though they were present and active during the war. It is convenient and dishonorable to blame the gods because it is easier to blame a higher power for unfortunate events than to take responsibility for oneself. Humans in the Iliad are fighting internal struggles at the same time throughout the war, which justifies why the gods would oppose