The Iliad - Book 5 - The 'aristeia' of Diomedes

• Reading time: about 60 minutes

• Diomedes' other name is Tydides, son of Tydeus, king of Argos--don't get confused.

• The 'aristeia' of Diomedes:

• This book may have originally a separate, independent poem that Homer adapted and included in The Iliad. While this book does not contribute to The Iliad's plot, its importance is thematic. What you should pay attention to and think about is how Diomedes is similar to and different from Achilles. Diomedes is an alternative form of hero from Achilles. Equal in strength, Diomedes is vastly different in character. [Discuss  Il 05-Diomedes & Achilles]

• That is why I refer to the book as the 'aristeia' of Diomedes. Aristeia means the 'excellence' --the great deeds of a hero. The Iliad contains several such aristeia; the others will be the aristeia of of Patroclus and the aristeia of Achilles, which will allow us to compare and contrast what Homer's poems regard as the ideal man.

• When Diomedes is wounded by Pandarus, Athena comes to his rescue and gives him special vision to distinguish men from gods. He must NOT fight gods, except against Aphrodite, the love goddess who protects the Trojans.

• Aeneas and Pandarus plan an attack on Diomedes, but Diomedes kills Pandarus. Aeneas tries to defend his body. Diomedes hurls a huge rock at Aeneas and injures him. Aphrodite goes to protect him. Diomedes stabs Aphrodite in the wrist, so Apollo has to step in a rescue Aeneas. Ares, the god of war, stirs up the Trojans to fight the Argives.