The Iliad · Chapter
Book V: The Exploits of Diomed explained
Diomedes, empowered by Athena, performs great feats in battle, wounding Aeneas and even the goddess Aphrodite.
What happens
Diomedes, empowered by Athena, performs great feats in battle, wounding Aeneas and even the goddess Aphrodite. He is healed by Athena after being wounded by Pandarus. The gods intervene directly, with Ares and other deities taking sides. Many warriors on both sides are slain, including Tlepolemus by Sarpedon. The chapter showcases Diomedes' aristeia and the intense involvement of the gods in the war.
Themes in this chapter
The Role of the Gods
Athena empowers Diomedes, Aphrodite and Ares are wounded, and gods directly influence the battle, showing their active participation in mortal conflicts.
Heroism and Mortality
Diomedes achieves great glory but is still vulnerable to wounds; heroes like Tlepolemus and Sarpedon face death, highlighting the limits of mortal heroism.
The Horrors of War
Graphic descriptions of deaths, such as Phereclus pierced through the hip and Pedasus stabbed in the neck, emphasize the brutality and tragedy of battle.
Characters to notice
- Diomedes
The central hero of the book, empowered by Athena to fight with divine strength and courage, wounds Aeneas and Aphrodite.
- Athena
Gives Diomedes strength and a flame on his head and shield, heals his wound, and forbids him to fight any god except Aphrodite.
- Aeneas
Fights bravely, kills Crethon and Orsilochus, but is wounded by Diomedes and rescued by Aphrodite and Apollo.
- Aphrodite
Rescues her son Aeneas from Diomedes, but is wounded in the hand by Diomedes and flees to Olympus.
- Sarpedon
Kills Tlepolemus in single combat, but is himself wounded in the thigh; his comrades carry him from the field.
- Hector
Leads the Trojan phalanxes with Ares and Bellona, rallies the Trojans, and kills Menesthes and Anchialus.
- Ares
Leads the Trojans alongside Hector, is later led away by Athena, and is wounded by Diomedes with Athena's help.
- Menelaus
Kills Scamandrius and Pykemenes, and rushes to avenge the deaths of Crethon and Orsilochus.
Key passages
“Then Pallas to Tydides Diomed Gave strength and courage, that he might appear Among the Achaians greatly eminent, And win a glorious name.”
Athena granted Diomedes strength and bravery so he could stand out among the Greeks and earn a famous reputation.
Highlights divine empowerment as the catalyst for Diomedes' aristeia.
“Him when the valiant Diomed beheld, He trembled; and, as one who, journeying Along a way he knows not, having crossed A place of drear extent, before him sees A river rushing swiftly toward the deep, And all its tossing current white with foam, And stops and turns, and measures back his way, So then did Diomed withdraw”
When Diomedes saw Hector with Ares beside him, he was afraid and retreated, like a traveler who stops and turns back at the sight of a dangerous river.
Shows that even the greatest hero must yield when facing a god, emphasizing the theme of divine power.
“Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, thus Made answer: 'True it is, Tlepolemus, That he laid waste the sacred city of Troy For the base dealings of Laomedon... But thou—thy fate Is slaughter and black death from this my spear; And fame will come to me, and one more soul Go down to Hades.'”
Sarpedon agreed that Hercules had sacked Troy because of Laomedon's treachery, but then declared that Tlepolemus would die by his spear, bringing Sarpedon glory and sending another soul to Hades.
Illustrates the heroic code where past deeds are acknowledged but personal glory in combat is paramount.
