Although Zeus’ complex plans are clear to the reader of the Iliad, the will of the gods is much more unclear to the men on the Trojan battlefield. The soldiers are forced to watch for omens that the gods send them, and deciding what is truly a sign from a god can be difficult to interpret. The clearest sign of any god’s support comes in the form of Zeus’ eagle, which signals to soldiers that Zeus is on their side. When men choose to ignore it, as Hector does in Book 12, the consequences can be dire.