THE HERO'S FATE

Much ink has been spilled over the battle exploits of the Achaean hero Diomedes, ‘of the battle cry'. From his involvement as one of the young epigoni (‘offspring') in the Second Theban War, to restoring his grandfather to the throne of Argos and removing his usurping cousins, Diomedes knew combat well before the Trojan War. There is much to explore in the accounts of this great Greek hero.

Once at Troy, Diomedes' aristeia takes up the entirety of Book Five of the Iliad, a boast not even paralleled by Achilles. In this book, Diomedes crosses sword and spear with mortals and gods alike, bringing down both. Yet Diomedes's skill in battle was not all he was remembered for. Often paired with Odysseus, Diomedes succeeded in numerous covert operations and prophesized tasks. These missions demanded courage, cunning, resourcefulness, and almost surgical precision. This legacy, as well as his military might and epic adventures, sculpted Diomedes into a figure worthy of worship far beyond the usual realm of Greek hero cults. Recruiting Achilles Achilles was fated to be known as the greatest of the Achaeans at Troy and the one who would break the stalemate. This almost perfect fighting machine…

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Ancient Warfare (Digital) - 1 Issue, AW XVII.6

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