Zeus's Golden Scales and the Valor of Diomedes — Homer, Iliad Book 8 (lines 70–139), Greek & English

ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει δύο κῆρε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο

In it he placed two fates of death that brings long woe,

Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,

both of the horse-taming Trojans and of the bronze-clad Achaeans,

ἕλκε δὲ μέσσα λαβών· ῥέπε δʼ αἴσιμον ἦμαρ¹ Ἀχαιῶν.

and he took the scales by the middle and lifted them; and the fateful day of the Achaeans sank.

αἳ μὲν Ἀχαιῶν κῆρες ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ

The fates of the Achaeans settled down upon the bountiful earth,

ἑζέσθην, Τρώων δὲ πρὸς οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἄερθεν·

while those of the Trojans were lifted up toward the wide heaven.

αὐτὸς δʼ ἐξ Ἴδης μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε, δαιόμενον δὲ

And he himself thundered aloud from Ida, and sent a burning

ἧκε σέλας μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες

flash among the host of the Achaeans; and they, when they saw it,

θάμβησαν, καὶ πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλεν.

were amazed, and pale fear seized them all.

ἔνθʼ οὔτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς τλῆ μίμνειν οὔτʼ Ἀγαμέμνων,

Then neither Idomeneus dared to remain, nor Agamemnon,

οὔτε δύʼ Αἴαντες μενέτην θεράποντες Ἄρηος·

nor did the two Aiantes remain, attendants of Ares.

Νέστωρ οἶος ἔμιμνε Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν

Gerenian Nestor alone remained, the guardian of the Achaeans,

οὔ τι ἑκών, ἀλλʼ ἵππος ἐτείρετο, τὸν βάλεν ἰῷ

not at all by his own will, but his horse was distressed, which noble Alexandros,

δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο

husband of fair-haired Helen, had struck with an arrow

ἄκρην κὰκ κορυφήν, ὅθι τε πρῶται τρίχες ἵππων

on the very crown of the head, where the first hairs of horses

κρανίῳ ἐμπεφύασι, μάλιστα δὲ καίριόν ἐστιν.

grow on the skull, and where it is most deadly.

ἀλγήσας δʼ ἀνέπαλτο, βέλος δʼ εἰς ἐγκέφαλον δῦ,

And in pain the horse leaped up, for the arrow sank into his brain,

σὺν δʼ ἵππους ἐτάραξε κυλινδόμενος περὶ χαλκῷ.

and he threw the other horses into confusion as he writhed around the bronze.

ὄφρʼ ὁ γέρων ἵπποιο παρηορίας ἀπέταμνε

While the old man was cutting away the trace-horse with his sword,

φασγάνῳ ἀΐσσων, τόφρʼ Ἕκτορος ὠκέες ἵπποι

striking quickly, meanwhile the swift horses of Hector came

ἦλθον ἀνʼ ἰωχμὸν θρασὺν ἡνίοχον φορέοντες

through the tumult, bearing their bold charioteer,

Ἕκτορα· καί νύ κεν ἔνθʼ ὁ γέρων ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὄλεσσεν

Hector; and now indeed the old man would have lost his life there,

εἰ μὴ² ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

if Diomedes, good at the war-cry, had not quickly noticed.

σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησεν ἐποτρύνων Ὀδυσῆα·

And he shouted terribly, urging on Odysseus:

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ

”O Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices,

πῇ φεύγεις μετὰ νῶτα βαλὼν κακὸς ὣς ἐν ὁμίλῳ;

whither do you flee, turning your back like a coward in the crowd?

μή τίς τοι φεύγοντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πήξῃ·

Let no one plant a spear in your back as you flee.

ἀλλὰ μένʼ ὄφρα γέροντος ἀπώσομεν ἄγριον ἄνδρα.

But stay, so that we may drive back the wild man from the old man.”

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἐσάκουσε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

Thus he spoke, but much-enduring noble Odysseus did not hear him,

ἀλλὰ παρήϊξεν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.

but dashed past toward the hollow ships of the Achaeans.

Τυδεΐδης δʼ αὐτός περ ἐὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη,

Yet the son of Tydeus, though he was alone, mingled with the foremost fighters,

100

στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ ἵππων Νηληϊάδαο γέροντος,

and stood before the horses of the old man, the son of Neleus,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and addressing him, spoke winged words:

ὦ γέρον ἦ μάλα δή σε νέοι τείρουσι μαχηταί,

”O old man, surely young fighters are pressing you hard,

σὴ δὲ βίη λέλυται, χαλεπὸν δέ σε γῆρας ὀπάζει,

and your strength is spent, and grievous old age attends you,

ἠπεδανὸς δέ νύ τοι θεράπων, βραδέες δέ τοι ἵπποι.

and your squire is feeble, and your horses are slow.

105

ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐμῶν ὀχέων ἐπιβήσεο, ὄφρα ἴδηαι

But come, mount my chariot, so that you may see

οἷοι Τρώϊοι ἵπποι ἐπιστάμενοι πεδίοιο³

what kind of horses are those of Troy, knowing well how

κραιπνὰ μάλʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα διωκέμεν ἠδὲ φέβεσθαι,

swiftly to pursue and to flee this way and that over the plain,

οὕς ποτʼ ἀπʼ Αἰνείαν ἑλόμην μήστωρε φόβοιο.

which once I took from Aeneas, deviser of terror.

τούτω μὲν θεράποντε κομείτων, τώδε δὲ νῶϊ

Let our squires tend those horses of yours, but these two let us

110

Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἰθύνομεν, ὄφρα καὶ Ἕκτωρ

direct against the horse-taming Trojans, so that Hector too

εἴσεται εἰ καὶ ἐμὸν δόρυ μαίνεται ἐν παλάμῃσιν.

may know whether my spear also rages in my hands.”

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ.

Thus he spoke, and Gerenian horseman Nestor did not disobey.

Νεστορέας μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἵππους θεράποντε κομείτην

Then the two strong squires, Sthenelus and kindly Eurymedon,

ἴφθιμοι Σθένελός τε καὶ Εὐρυμέδων ἀγαπήνωρ.

tended the horses of Nestor.

115

τὼ δʼ εἰς ἀμφοτέρω Διομήδεος ἅρματα βήτην·

And the other two mounted both upon the chariot of Diomedes;

Νέστωρ δʼ ἐν χείρεσσι λάβʼ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,

and Nestor took the shining reins in his hands,

μάστιξεν δʼ ἵππους· τάχα δʼ Ἕκτορος ἄγχι γένοντο.

and whipped the horses; and soon they came near Hector.

τοῦ δʼ ἰθὺς μεμαῶτος ἀκόντισε Τυδέος υἱός·

At him, as he rushed straight on, the son of Tydeus cast his spear;

καὶ τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀφάμαρτεν, ὃ δʼ ἡνίοχον θεράποντα

and him indeed he missed, but his squire and charioteer,

120

υἱὸν ὑπερθύμου Θηβαίου Ἠνιοπῆα

Eniopeus, son of high-hearted Thebaeus,

ἵππων ἡνίʼ ἔχοντα βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν.

as he was holding the reins of the horses, he struck in the breast beside the nipple.

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι

And he fell from the chariot, and the swift-footed horses

ὠκύποδες· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε.

swerved aside; and there his life and strength were loosed.

Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἡνιόχοιο·

And dread grief veiled the mind of Hector for his charioteer;

125

τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασε καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου

yet he let him lie there, though grieving for his comrade,

κεῖσθαι, ὃ δʼ ἡνίοχον μέθεπε θρασύν· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν

and went in search of a bold charioteer; nor indeed did his horses

ἵππω δευέσθην σημάντορος· αἶψα γὰρ εὗρεν

long lack a guider, for quickly he found

Ἰφιτίδην Ἀρχεπτόλεμον θρασύν, ὅν ῥα τόθʼ ἵππων

bold Archeptolemus, son of Iphitus, whom then he made mount

ὠκυπόδων ἐπέβησε, δίδου δέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν.

the swift-footed horses, and gave the reins into his hands.

130

ἔνθά κε λοιγὸς ἔην καὶ ἀμήχανα ἔργα γένοντο,

Then indeed there would have been ruin and undoing,

καί νύ κε σήκασθεν κατὰ Ἴλιον ἠΰτε ἄρνες,

and they would have been penned in Ilium like lambs,

εἰ μὴ⁴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·

if the father of men and gods had not quickly noticed;

βροντήσας δʼ ἄρα δεινὸν ἀφῆκʼ ἀργῆτα κεραυνόν,

and thundering terribly, he sent down his bright lightning,

κὰδ δὲ πρόσθʼ ἵππων Διομήδεος ἧκε χαμᾶζε·

and cast it to the ground in front of the horses of Diomedes;

135

δεινὴ δὲ φλὸξ ὦρτο θεείου καιομένοιο,

and a terrible flame arose of burning sulfur,

τὼ δʼ ἵππω δείσαντε καταπτήτην ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι·

and the two horses, terrified, cowered beneath the chariot;

Νέστορα δʼ ἐκ χειρῶν φύγον ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,

and the shining reins slipped from the hands of Nestor,

δεῖσε δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν θυμῷ, Διομήδεα δὲ προσέειπε·

and he feared in his heart, and spoke to Diomedes:

Τυδεΐδη ἄγε δʼ αὖτε φόβον δʼ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους.

”Son of Tydeus, come now, turn your whole-hoofed horses to flight!”

Syntax notes4 items

8.72αἴσιμον ἦμαρ
Meaning 'fateful day' or 'day of doom'. Here, the sinking of the scale indicates that the doom of death is determined for the Achaeans.
8.90καί νύ κε... εἰ μὴ
A contrary-to-fact conditional construction in the past ('and now indeed... would have... if not...'). A dramatic formula characteristic of epic poetry.
8.106ἐπιστάμενοι πεδίοιο
The verb ἐπίσταμαι is used here with the partitive genitive of place πεδίοιο ('of/over the plain'), meaning 'being skilled in maneuvering over the plain'.
8.130ἔνθά κε... εἰ μὴ
A contrary-to-fact conditional sentence identical in structure to lines 90-91. It describes the critical moment when a catastrophic outcome is averted at the last second by divine (Zeus's) intervention.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-23)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.70-8.139