Irlandos at 14:49, December 29, 2005

2005-12-29T14:49:10Z

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In [[Greek mythology]], '''Diomedes''' ("god-like cunning") was the son of [[Tydeus]] and [[Deipyle]] and a favored hero of [[Athena]]. He was one of the [[Epigoni]] and later became King of [[Argos]], succeeding his grandfather, [[Adrastus]].

In the ''[[Iliad]]'', Diomedes is one of the most attractive figures among the Greek generals. Along with [[Sthenelus]], he leads the [[Argos|Argive]] armies. He has a horse named [[Lampos]]. One of his companions, a brother-in-arms, is named [[Euryalus]].

Book V of the Iliad is centered on the battlefield valor of Diomedes. He duels with [[Aeneas]] and nearly kills him, but [[Aphrodite]], Aeneas' mother, comes to his aid and tries to cover him up. Diomedes wounds Aphrodite and she drops her son, fleeing to [[Mount Olympus]]. Aeneas is then enveloped in a cloud by [[Apollo]], who takes him to [[Pergamos (Troy)|Pergamos]], a sacred spot in [[Troy]]. [[Artemis]] heals Aeneas there.

Later in the same melee, Diomedes fights with [[Hector]] and sees [[Ares]], the war-god, fighting on the Trojans' side. Diomedes calls for his soldiers to fall back slowly. [[Hera]], Ares' mother, sees Ares' interference and asks [[Zeus]], Ares' father, for permission to drive Ares away from the battlefield. Hera encourages Diomedes to attack Ares and he threw his spear at the god. [[Athena]] drives the spear into Ares' belly: bellowing in pain, the wounded god ascends to Olympus in a column of smoke, forcing the Trojans to fall back.

Subsequently, in a night raid on the Trojan camp, Diomedes and [[Odysseus]] steal King [[Rhesus]]'s team of fine horses. This demonstrates the two kings' courage and guile, but more importantly fulfills one of the prophecies required for the fall of Troy: that Troy will not fall while the horses of Rhesus feed upon its plains.

Like the other major Greek characters, Diomedes is alive and well as the ''Iliad'' comes to a close. In the ''[[Odyssey]]'' the reader is told that when the Trojan War was over, Diomedes returned home. Other stories of his exploits come from later classical sources.

Diomedes and Odysseus stole the [[Palladium (mythology)|Palladium]] and took it to [[Argos]]. Diomedes also killed [[Merops]]' two sons.

After his return home, his wife, [[Aegiale]] had been unfaithful to him and Diomedes left for Italy, where he founded the cities of [[Brindisium]] and Arpus Hippium.

At some point, Diomedes restored [[Oeneus]] to the throne of [[Calydon]] after his brother's ([[Agrius]]) sons had overthrown him.

==See also==
*[[Mares of Diomedes]] (a different [[Thracian]] Diomedes)

[[Category:People who fought in the Trojan War]]

Diomedes - Revision history

Irlandos at 14:49, December 29, 2005