Diomedes was the son of Tydeus and Deipyle, daughter of King Adrastus of Argos. After Tydeus died at Thebes, Diomedes grew up in Argos and later avenged his father by conquering Thebes with the Epigoni.
Ajax and Diomedes fought together at Troy. In Iliad Book 23, they wrestled to a draw in the funeral games for Patroclus, and they jointly raided the Trojan camp in several traditions.
Athena empowered Diomedes in battle during the Iliad, granting him supernatural sight to distinguish gods from mortals and guiding his spear to wound both Aphrodite and Ares.
Odysseus and Diomedes were close allies at Troy, partnering in the night raid on the Trojan camp that killed Rhesus and stole the Palladium from Troy's citadel.
In Iliad Book 5, Diomedes wounded Aeneas with a spear and then struck Aphrodite herself when she tried to rescue her son. Apollo intervened to carry Aeneas to safety in his temple.
In the Iliad, the mortal Diomedes wounded Ares with Athena's guidance, driving the war god screaming from the battlefield — an extraordinary humiliation for an immortal deity.
Hector and Diomedes clashed repeatedly on the battlefield. In the Iliad, Diomedes was one of the few Greeks who could match Hector in open combat.
The greatest heroes and the most favored of the gods dwell in Elysium after death, freed from the sorrows of Hades. Achilles, Peleus, Pelops, Menelaus, Cadmus, Harmonia, and Diomedes earned their place among the blessed dead.
The Epigoni — sons of the fallen Seven against Thebes — included Amphilochus, Sthenelus, Diomedes, and Thersander among their ranks. They successfully conquered Thebes in a second campaign, avenging their fathers' defeat.
Antilochus and Diomedes both competed in the chariot race at Patroclus's funeral games. Diomedes won the race after Athena intervened against Eumelus.
Diomedes wounded Aphrodite's hand with his spear when she tried to rescue Aeneas from the battlefield, driving the goddess back to Olympus.
In Iliad 6, Glaucus and Diomedes met between the battle lines and discovered their grandfathers had been guest-friends. They exchanged armor as a pledge of friendship, with Glaucus giving golden armor worth a hundred oxen for Diomedes' bronze worth nine.
Diomedes rescued Nestor during the Trojan War when Paris wounded the old king's horse. Together they charged Hector from Diomedes' chariot until Zeus's thunderbolts turned them back.
Diomedes, grandson of Oeneus, marched against Calydon to avenge the deposed king after Agrius and his sons seized the throne. Diomedes restored Oeneus's honor and killed or exiled the usurpers.
Thersites was a kinsman of Diomedes through the Aetolian royal house. Achilles's killing of Thersites caused a serious quarrel because Diomedes demanded satisfaction for his relative's death.
Diomedes was one of the foremost Greek warriors in the Trojan War. Empowered by Athena, he wounded Aphrodite and Ares in a single day, and later joined Odysseus in stealing the Palladium.
We use cookies to understand how you use our site and improve your experience. Learn more