Diomedes
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Definition: Diomedes, at one time a suitor of Helen of Troy, was one of the leaders of the Achaeans (Greeks) in the Trojan War, providing perhaps as many as 80 ships. Diomedes killed many Trojans during the Trojan War, including Aphrodite who intervened to keep Diomedes from killing her son Aeneas. Diomedes, with the help of Athena, also wounded Ares. Diomedes himself was wounded by the Trojan prince Paris.
The Greek hero Diomedes was also involved in some of Odysseus' shenanigans, possibly including the killing of Palamedes, the Greek who had tricked Odysseus into going to war. Diomedes was among the Achaean men tucked inside the belly of the great wooden horse the Greeks presented to the Trojans ostensibly as a gift to the goddess.
Earlier in his life Diomedes had been involved in the second generation expedition against Thebes, making him one of the epigoni. Diomedes' parents were Tydeus and Deipyle. Diomedes was married to Aegialia when he left for Troy. Egged on by Aphrodite who had a grudge against her husband Diomedes for the wrist injury she had sustained defending Aeneas, Aegialia was faithless and kept Diomedes from re-entering the city. So, after the Trojan War, Diomedes sailed to Libya where he was imprisoned by King Lycus. The king's daughter Callirrhoe released him, following which, Diomedes sailed away. The daughter committed suicide.
There are various accounts of how Diomedes died. One has Athena turning Diomedes into a god. In another, he dies from treachery. In still another, Diomedes dies of old age. He may have encountered Aeneas again in Italy.
Related Resources:
Helen and the people who started the Trojan War
Includes information on the oath according to which Diomedes and Odysseus were obligated to go to war with the other Achaeans against Troy.
Elsewhere on the Web:
Diomedes
Carlos Parada's page on Diomedes, his parentage, mates, offspring, legends, sources, and the men Diomedes killed in the Trojan War.Epigoni
Carlos Parada's page on the Epigoni.
