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Homer · Iliad §11.285-11.356

Hector's Onslaught and the Stand of Diomedes

Passage 95 of 226 · Greek

Summary

Observing Agamemnon's departure, Hector rallies the Trojans to initiate a fierce offensive, driving the Achaeans to the brink of ruin. Amidst this crisis, Diomedes and Odysseus stand their ground, repelling Hector to save their comrades.

§11.285Τρωσί τε καὶ Λυκίοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας· §11.286Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ §11.287ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
He called to the Trojans and Lycians, shouting aloud: "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians who fight hand-to-hand, be men, my friends, and remember furious valor.
§11.288οἴχετʼ ἀνὴρ ὤριστος, ἐμοὶ δὲ μέγʼ εὖχος ἔδωκε §11.289Ζεὺς Κρονίδης·
The best man is gone, and to me Zeus, son of Cronos, has given great glory.
ἀλλʼ ἰθὺς ἐλαύνετε μώνυχας ἵππους §11.290ἰφθίμων Δαναῶν, ἵνʼ ὑπέρτερον εὖχος ἄρησθε. §11.291ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
But drive your single-hoofed horses straight against the valiant Danaans, so that you may win a greater glory." So saying, he stirred the strength and spirit of each man.
§11.292ὡς δʼ ὅτε πού τις θηρητὴρ κύνας ἀργιόδοντας §11.293σεύῃ ἐπʼ ἀγροτέρῳ συῒ καπρίῳ ἠὲ λέοντι, §11.294ὣς ἐπʼ Ἀχαιοῖσιν σεῦε Τρῶας μεγαθύμους §11.295Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης βροτολοιγῷ ἶσος Ἄρηϊ.
And just as when some hunter urges his white-toothed hounds against a wild boar or a lion, so did Hector, son of Priam, like bane-of-mortals Ares, urge the great-hearted Trojans against the Achaeans.
§11.296αὐτὸς δʼ ἐν πρώτοισι μέγα φρονέων ἐβεβήκει, §11.297ἐν δʼ ἔπεσʼ ὑσμίνῃ ὑπεραέϊ ἶσος ἀέλλῃ, §11.298ἥ τε καθαλλομένη ἰοειδέα πόντον ὀρίνει.
He himself strode in the forefront, high in spirit, and fell upon the conflict like a fiercely blowing tempest which leaps down and rouses the violet-hued sea.
§11.299ἔνθα τίνα πρῶτον, τίνα δʼ ὕστατον ἐξενάριξεν §11.300Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, ὅτε οἱ Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν;
Whom then first, and whom last did he despoil, Hector, son of Priam, when Zeus gave him glory?
§11.301Ἀσαῖον μὲν πρῶτα καὶ Αὐτόνοον καὶ Ὀπίτην §11.302καὶ Δόλοπα Κλυτίδην καὶ Ὀφέλτιον ἠδʼ Ἀγέλαον §11.303Αἴσυμνόν τʼ Ὦρόν τε καὶ Ἱππόνοον μενεχάρμην.
Asaeus first, and Autonous, and Opites, and Dolops, son of Clytius, and Opheltius, and Agelaus, and Aesymnus, and Orus, and Hipponous, steadfast in battle.
§11.304τοὺς ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἡγεμόνας Δαναῶν ἕλεν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα §11.305πληθύν, ὡς ὁπότε νέφεα Ζέφυρος στυφελίξῃ §11.306ἀργεστᾶο Νότοιο βαθείῃ λαίλαπι τύπτων· §11.307πολλὸν δὲ τρόφι κῦμα κυλίνδεται, ὑψόσε δʼ ἄχνη §11.308σκίδναται ἐξ ἀνέμοιο πολυπλάγκτοιο ἰωῆς· §11.309ὣς ἄρα πυκνὰ καρήαθʼ ὑφʼ Ἕκτορι δάμνατο λαῶν.
These leaders of the Danaans he slew, and thereafter the multitude, as when the West Wind drives the clouds of the clearing South Wind, smiting them with a deep tempest; and many a swollen wave rolls, and on high the spray is scattered by the blast of the wandering wind; even so were the heads of the host subdued in thick array beneath Hector.
§11.310ἔνθά κε λοιγὸς ἔην καὶ ἀμήχανα ἔργα γένοντο, §11.311καί νύ κεν ἐν νήεσσι πέσον φεύγοντες Ἀχαιοί, §11.312εἰ μὴ Τυδεΐδῃ Διομήδεϊ κέκλετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς· §11.313Τυδεΐδη τί παθόντε λελάσμεθα θούριδος ἀλκῆς;
Then would there have been ruin, and helpless deeds been done, and the fleeing Achaeans would have fallen among the ships, had not Odysseus called to Diomedes, son of Tydeus: "Son of Tydeus, what has come over us that we have forgotten our furious valor?
§11.314ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵσταο· δὴ γὰρ ἔλεγχος §11.315ἔσσεται εἴ κεν νῆας ἕλῃ κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ. §11.316τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης· §11.317ἤτοι ἐγὼ μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι· ἀλλὰ μίνυνθα §11.318ἡμέων ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς §11.319Τρωσὶν δὴ βόλεται δοῦναι κράτος ἠέ περ ἡμῖν. §11.320ἦ καὶ Θυμβραῖον μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζε §11.321δουρὶ βαλὼν κατὰ μαζὸν ἀριστερόν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς §11.322ἀντίθεον θεράποντα Μολίονα τοῖο ἄνακτος.
Come hither, friend, and stand by me; for surely it will be a shame if Hector of the flashing helm should take the ships." And in answer to him spoke strong Diomedes: "Of a truth I will remain and endure; but short-lived will be our profit, since Zeus the cloud-gatherer wills to give victory to the Trojans rather than to us." He spoke, and thrust Thymbraeus from his chariot to the ground, striking him with his spear on the left breast; while Odysseus slew Molion, the godlike squire of that king.
§11.323τοὺς μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασαν, ἐπεὶ πολέμου ἀπέπαυσαν· §11.324τὼ δʼ ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἰόντε κυδοίμεον, ὡς ὅτε κάπρω §11.325ἐν κυσὶ θηρευτῇσι μέγα φρονέοντε πέσητον· §11.326ὣς ὄλεκον Τρῶας πάλιν ὀρμένω· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ §11.327ἀσπασίως φεύγοντες ἀνέπνεον Ἕκτορα δῖον.
These then they let lie, since they had made them cease from war; but the two went through the throng and wrought havoc, as when two wild boars fall in high spirit upon the hunting hounds; so they turned again and slew the Trojans; and the Achaeans gladly took breath again in their flight from noble Hector.
§11.328ἔνθʼ ἑλέτην δίφρόν τε καὶ ἀνέρε δήμου ἀρίστω §11.329υἷε δύω Μέροπος Περκωσίου, ὃς περὶ πάντων §11.330ᾔδεε μαντοσύνας, οὐδὲ οὓς παῖδας ἔασκε §11.331στείχειν ἐς πόλεμον φθισήνορα· τὼ δέ οἱ οὔ τι §11.332πειθέσθην· κῆρες γὰρ ἄγον μέλανος θανάτοιο.
Then they took a chariot and two men, the best of their people, the two sons of Merops of Percote, who beyond all men knew prophecy, and would not suffer his sons to go into the man-destroying war; yet the two would in no wise hearken to him, for the fates of black death led them.
§11.333τοὺς μὲν Τυδεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Διομήδης §11.334θυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς κεκαδὼν κλυτὰ τεύχεʼ ἀπηύρα· §11.335Ἱππόδαμον δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ Ὑπείροχον ἐξενάριξεν.
These Diomedes, son of Tydeus, famous with the spear, robbed of spirit and life, and despoiled them of their glorious armor; and Odysseus slew Hippodamus and Hypeirochus.
§11.336ἔνθά σφιν κατὰ ἶσα μάχην ἐτάνυσσε Κρονίων §11.337ἐξ Ἴδης καθορῶν· τοὶ δʼ ἀλλήλους ἐνάριζον.
Then the son of Cronos stretched the line of battle even for them, looking down from Ida; and they kept slaying one another.
§11.338ἤτοι Τυδέος υἱὸς Ἀγάστροφον οὔτασε δουρὶ §11.339Παιονίδην ἥρωα κατʼ ἰσχίον· οὐ δέ οἱ ἵπποι §11.340ἐγγὺς ἔσαν προφυγεῖν, ἀάσατο δὲ μέγα θυμῷ.
Indeed, the son of Tydeus wounded Agastrophus, the hero, son of Paeon, on the hip with his spear; and his horses were not near for flight, but he was greatly blinded in his mind.
§11.341τοὺς μὲν γὰρ θεράπων ἀπάνευθʼ ἔχεν, αὐτὰρ ὃ πεζὸς §11.342θῦνε διὰ προμάχων, εἷος φίλον ὤλεσε θυμόν.
For his squire held them aloof, while he on foot raged through the foremost fighters, until he lost his dear life.
§11.343Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὀξὺ νόησε κατὰ στίχας, ὦρτο δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς §11.344κεκλήγων· ἅμα δὲ Τρώων εἵποντο φάλαγγες.
But Hector marked it quickly through the ranks, and rushed upon them with a shout; and with him followed the battalions of the Trojans.
§11.345τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ῥίγησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης, §11.346αἶψα δʼ Ὀδυσσῆα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα· §11.347νῶϊν δὴ τόδε πῆμα κυλίνδεται ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρ· §11.348ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ στέωμεν καὶ ἀλεξώμεσθα μένοντες. §11.349ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος §11.350καὶ βάλεν, οὐδʼ ἀφάμαρτε τιτυσκόμενος κεφαλῆφιν, §11.351ἄκρην κὰκ κόρυθα· πλάγχθη δʼ ἀπὸ χαλκόφι χαλκός, §11.352οὐδʼ ἵκετο χρόα καλόν· ἐρύκακε γὰρ τρυφάλεια §11.353τρίπτυχος αὐλῶπις, τήν οἱ πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.
At sight of him Diomedes, good at the war-cry, shuddered, and straightway spoke to Odysseus who was near: "Upon the two of us is this ruin rolling, even mighty Hector; but come, let us stand and ward him off where we are." He spoke, and brandishing his far-shadowing spear let it fly, and struck him, nor did he miss, aiming at his head, on the top of the helmet; but bronze was turned back by bronze, and did not reach his fair flesh; for the three-layered, crested helmet stayed it, which Phoebus Apollo had given him.
§11.354Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὦκʼ ἀπέλεθρον ἀνέδραμε, μίκτο δʼ ὁμίλῳ, §11.355στῆ δὲ γνὺξ ἐριπὼν καὶ ἐρείσατο χειρὶ παχείῃ §11.356γαίης· ἀμφὶ δὲ ὄσσε κελαινὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψεν.
And Hector quickly sprang back a great distance, and mingled with the throng, and fell upon his knees and stayed himself with his stout hand on the earth; and dark night enfolded his eyes.

Notes

  1. §11.290ἵνʼ ὑπέρτερον εὖχος ἄρησθε — A purpose clause introduced by ἵνα with the subjunctive ἄρησθε (second-person plural aorist middle of ἀείρω / αἴρω), meaning 'in order that you may win a greater (ὑπέρτερον) glory.'
  2. §11.310ἔνθά κε λοιγὸς ἔην — An unreal past apodosis expressed by κε (= ἄν) with the imperfect indicative ἔην (= ἦν), meaning 'then there would have been ruin (if something had not occurred),' highlighting a moment of dramatic crisis.
  3. §11.313τί παθόντε λελάσμεθα — A combination of the dual nominative participle παθόντε and the first-person plural verb λελάσμεθα (perfect middle-passive of λανθάνω, used actively as 'we have forgotten'). This is the dual form of the idiom τί παθών; ('why', 'what has happened to us that...').
  4. §11.332κῆρες γὰρ ἄγον μέλανος θανάτοιο — The genitive μέλανος θανάτοιο ('of black death') depends on either the verb ἄγον or the noun κῆρες as a genitive of destination or attribute, expressing the inevitability of the fate leading them to their death.
  5. §11.340ἀάσατο δὲ μέγα θυμῷ — The verb ἀάσατο (aorist middle of ἀάω) means 'was blinded, committed a grave error.' combined with θυμῷ (dative of respect or place, 'in his mind'), it refers to Agastrophus's reckless mistake of leaving his horses far behind and fighting on foot.

Cite this passage

Homer, Iliad §11.285-11.356. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.285-11.356

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