What was the reason Zeus wanted the Trojans to win?

• A. He wanted to punish Paris
• B. He wanted to antagonize Hera who favored the Greeks
• C. He sought to aid the Trojans against the Greeks
• D. He hoped to end the war quickly

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how the gods’ personal rivalries shape what happens in the war. Zeus wants the Trojans to win in this moment specifically to antagonize Hera, who favors the Greeks. In these myths, Hera and Zeus are often at odds, with Hera backing the Greek side. By letting Trojan success occur, Zeus toys with Hera and keeps the divine quarrel alive rather than letting it settle quickly. This motive fits Zeus’s pattern of influencing events to provoke Hera and maintain the dramatic balance of power among the gods. The other options don’t align as well with how Zeus behaves in these stories: punishing Paris isn’t his driving move, ending the war quickly isn’t his goal, and actively aiding the Trojans against the Greeks would contradict Hera’s persistent greco-oriented allegiance.