Diomedes Inspired by Athena and the Achaean Advance — Homer, Iliad Book 5 (lines 1–71), Greek & English

ἔνθʼ αὖ Τυδεΐδῃ Διομήδεϊ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

Then in turn Pallas Athena to Diomedes, son of Tydeus,

δῶκε μένος καὶ θάρσος, ἵνʼ ἔκδηλος μετὰ πᾶσιν

gave strength and courage, so that he might be conspicuous among all

Ἀργείοισι γένοιτο ἰδὲ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄροιτο·

the Argives and might win noble renown.

δαῖέ οἱ ἐκ κόρυθός τε καὶ ἀσπίδος ἀκάματον πῦρ

She kindled from his helmet and his shield a tireless fire,

ἀστέρʼ ὀπωρινῷ ἐναλίγκιον, ὅς τε μάλιστα

like to the star of autumn, which especially

λαμπρὸν παμφαίνῃσι λελουμένος ὠκεανοῖο·¹

shines bright when it has bathed in Oceanus.

τοῖόν οἱ πῦρ δαῖεν ἀπὸ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων,

Such fire she kindled from his head and shoulders,

ὦρσε δέ μιν κατὰ μέσσον ὅθι πλεῖστοι κλονέοντο.

and she urged him into the midst where the greatest numbers were thronging.

ἦν δέ τις ἐν Τρώεσσι Δάρης ἀφνειὸς ἀμύμων

Now there was among the Trojans one Dares, rich and blameless,

ἱρεὺς Ἡφαίστοιο· δύω δέ οἱ υἱέες ἤστην

a priest of Hephaestus; and he had two sons,

Φηγεὺς Ἰδαῖός τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης.

Phegeus and Idaeus, well skilled in all manner of fighting.

τώ οἱ ἀποκρινθέντε ἐναντίω ὁρμηθήτην·

These two, parting from the rest, rushed against him,

τὼ μὲν ἀφʼ ἵπποιιν, ὃ δʼ ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὄρνυτο πεζός.

they in their chariot, while he from the ground charged on foot.

οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες

And when they were near, coming against one another,

Φηγεύς ῥα πρότερος προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος·

Phegeus first let fly his long-shadowing spear;

Τυδεΐδεω δʼ ὑπὲρ ὦμον ἀριστερὸν ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκὴ

and over the left shoulder of Tydeus’ son passed the point

ἔγχεος, οὐδʼ ἔβαλʼ αὐτόν· ὃ δʼ ὕστερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ

of the spear, and struck him not. Then next rushed on with his bronze

Τυδεΐδης· τοῦ δʼ οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγε χειρός,

Tydeus’ son; and not in vain did the weapon fly from his hand,

ἀλλʼ ἔβαλε στῆθος μεταμάζιον, ὦσε δʼ ἀφʼ ἵππων.

but struck his opponent on the chest between the breasts, and thrust him from the chariot.

Ἰδαῖος δʼ ἀπόρουσε λιπὼν περικαλλέα δίφρον,

And Idaeus leapt down, leaving the beautiful chariot,

οὐδʼ ἔτλη περιβῆναι ἀδελφειοῦ κταμένοιο·

nor did he dare to stand over his slain brother;

οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ κεν αὐτὸς ὑπέκφυγε² κῆρα μέλαιναν,

for indeed he would not himself have escaped black death,

ἀλλʼ Ἥφαιστος ἔρυτο, σάωσε δὲ νυκτὶ καλύψας,

had not Hephaestus guarded him, and saved him by wrapping him in darkness,

ὡς δή οἱ μὴ πάγχυ γέρων ἀκαχήμενος εἴη.

so that his aged priest might not be utterly broken with grief.

ἵππους δʼ ἐξελάσας μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὸς

And the horses did the son of great-hearted Tydeus drive out,

δῶκεν ἑταίροισιν κατάγειν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.

and gave them to his comrades to lead away to the hollow ships.

Τρῶες δὲ μεγάθυμοι ἐπεὶ ἴδον υἷε Δάρητος

But when the great-hearted Trojans saw the two sons of Dares,

τὸν μὲν ἀλευάμενον, τὸν δὲ κτάμενον παρʼ ὄχεσφι,

the one fleeing, and the other slain beside his chariot,

πᾶσιν ὀρίνθη θυμός· ἀτὰρ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

the hearts of all were dismayed. But flashing-eyed Athena

χειρὸς ἑλοῦσʼ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα θοῦρον Ἄρηα·

took impetuous Ares by the hand and spoke to him, saying:

Ἆρες Ἄρες βροτολοιγὲ μιαιφόνε τειχεσιπλῆτα

”Ares, Ares, bane of mortals, blood-stained stormer of walls,

οὐκ ἂν δὴ Τρῶας μὲν ἐάσαιμεν καὶ Ἀχαιοὺς

should we not indeed leave the Trojans and Achaeans

μάρνασθʼ, ὁπποτέροισι πατὴρ Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀρέξῃ,

to fight, to whichever of the two father Zeus may grant glory,

νῶϊ δὲ χαζώμεσθα,³ Διὸς δʼ ἀλεώμεθα μῆνιν;

and ourselves withdraw and avoid the wrath of Zeus?”

ὣς εἰποῦσα μάχης ἐξήγαγε θοῦρον Ἄρηα·

So saying, she led impetuous Ares out of the battle,

τὸν μὲν ἔπειτα καθεῖσεν ἐπʼ ἠϊόεντι Σκαμάνδρῳ,

and then made him sit down on the sandy banks of Scamander.

Τρῶας δʼ ἔκλιναν Δαναοί· ἕλε δʼ ἄνδρα ἕκαστος

Then the Danaans turned the Trojans to flight, and each

ἡγεμόνων· πρῶτος δὲ ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

of the leaders slew his man. First the king of men, Agamemnon,

ἀρχὸν Ἁλιζώνων Ὀδίον μέγαν ἔκβαλε δίφρου·

thrust from his chariot great Hodius, leader of the Halizones;

πρώτῳ γὰρ στρεφθέντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πῆξεν

for as he first turned to flee, he fixed the spear in his back

ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσε,

between his shoulders, and drove it through his chest.

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

And he fell with a thud, and his armor clattered upon him.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἄρα Φαῖστον ἐνήρατο Μῄονος υἱὸν

And Idomeneus slew Phaestus, son of Maeon’s son

Βώρου, ὃς ἐκ Τάρνης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει.

Borus, who had come from fertile Tarne.

τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ

Him, renowned for the spear, Idomeneus with his long spear

νύξʼ ἵππων ἐπιβησόμενον κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον·

stabbed as he was mounting his chariot, through the right shoulder;

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, στυγερὸς δʼ ἄρα μιν σκότος εἷλε.

and he fell from his chariot, and hateful darkness seized him.

τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἰδομενῆος ἐσύλευον θεράποντες·

Then the attendants of Idomeneus stripped him of his armor.

υἱὸν δὲ Στροφίοιο Σκαμάνδριον αἵμονα θήρης

And the son of Atreus, Menelaus, slew with his sharp spear

Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἕλʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι

Scamandrius, son of Strophius, skilled in the chase,

ἐσθλὸν θηρητῆρα· δίδαξε γὰρ Ἄρτεμις αὐτὴ

a noble hunter; for Artemis herself had taught him

βάλλειν ἄγρια πάντα, τά τε τρέφει οὔρεσιν ὕλη·

to shoot all wild beasts that the forest nurtures in the mountains.

ἀλλʼ οὔ οἱ τότε γε χραῖσμʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,

But not then did Artemis, pourer of arrows, help him,

οὐδὲ ἑκηβολίαι ᾗσιν τὸ πρίν γε κέκαστο·⁴

nor all his archery in which he had of old excelled;

ἀλλά μιν Ἀτρεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Μενέλαος

but the son of Atreus, Menelaus, renowned for the spear,

πρόσθεν ἕθεν φεύγοντα μετάφρενον οὔτασε δουρὶ

stabbed him as he fled before him with his spear in the back

ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσεν,

between the shoulders, and drove it through his chest.

ἤριπε δὲ πρηνής, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

And he fell prone, and his armor clattered upon him.

Μηριόνης δὲ Φέρεκλον ἐνήρατο, τέκτονος υἱὸν

And Meriones slew Phereclus, son of Tecton,

Ἁρμονίδεω, ὃς χερσὶν ἐπίστατο δαίδαλα πάντα

Harmonian’s son, who knew how to fashion with his hands all manner of curious work;

τεύχειν· ἔξοχα γάρ μιν ἐφίλατο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη·

for Pallas Athena loved him exceedingly.

ὃς καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ τεκτήνατο νῆας ἐΐσας

He it was who had also built for Alexander the well-balanced ships,

ἀρχεκάκους, αἳ πᾶσι κακὸν Τρώεσσι γένοντο

source of woes, which were the bane of all the Trojans

οἷ τʼ αὐτῷ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι θεῶν ἐκ θέσφατα ᾔδη.

and of himself, since he knew not at all the oracles of the gods.

τὸν μὲν Μηριόνης ὅτε δὴ κατέμαρπτε διώκων

Him Meriones, when he overtook him in pursuit,

βεβλήκει γλουτὸν κατὰ δεξιόν· ἣ δὲ διαπρὸ

struck on the right buttock; and right through,

ἀντικρὺ κατὰ κύστιν ὑπʼ ὀστέον ἤλυθʼ ἀκωκή·

beneath the bone, the point passed straight to the bladder.

γνὺξ δʼ ἔριπʼ οἰμώξας, θάνατος δέ μιν ἀμφεκάλυψε.

And he fell on his knees with a groan, and death enfolded him.

Πήδαιον δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπεφνε Μέγης Ἀντήνορος υἱὸν

And Meges slew Pedaeus, Antenor’s son,

ὅς ῥα νόθος μὲν ἔην, πύκα δʼ ἔτρεφε δῖα Θεανὼ

who was indeed a bastard, yet noble Theano reared him

ἶσα φίλοισι τέκεσσι⁵ χαριζομένη πόσεϊ ᾧ.

carefully, even as her own children, to do pleasure to her husband.

Syntax notes5 items

5.6λελουμένος ὠκεανοῖο
The genitive ὠκεανοῖο acts as a genitive of place or source with the participle λελουμένος ("having bathed in/from Oceanus"), indicating the water in which the star is washed.
5.22οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδέ κεν αὐτὸς ὑπέκφυγε
The particle κεν (Epic for ἄν) with the indicative past (aorist ὑπέκφυγε) forms the apodosis of a past contrary-to-fact conditional sentence with an omitted protasis: "for indeed [had he stayed to protect his brother] he would not himself have escaped black death."
5.32οὐκ ἂν δὴ Τρῶας μὲν ἐάσαιμεν... νῶϊ δὲ χαζώμεσθα
In Athena's speech to Ares, οὐκ ἂν ... ἐάσαιμεν (potential optative with ἂν in a question) functions as a persuasive suggestion ("shall we not indeed leave...?"), followed by the hortatory subjunctives χαζώμεσθα ("let us withdraw") and ἀλεώμεθα ("and avoid").
5.54ᾗσιν τὸ πρίν γε κέκαστο
The relative pronoun in the dative plural ᾗσιν refers back to ἑκηβολίαι ("archery", plural) in the same line. The verb καίνυμαι ("excel", perfect κέκαστο) takes the dative of respect or sphere, meaning "in which [skills of archery] he had excelled of old."
5.71ἶσα φίλοισι τέκεσσι
The neuter plural accusative used adverbially ἶσα ("equally to") governs the dative φίλοισι τέκεσσι, expressing comparison ("equally with her own children"). The participle χαριζομένη ("pleasing") takes the dative πόσεϊ ᾧ, explaining the motive ("to please her husband").

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.1-5.71