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Multiple Achaean captains, including Agamemnon, Idomeneus, and Menelaus, kill their Trojan counterparts. Book 5 begins a passage of extended individual heroism for Diomedes, something that the Greeks called an aristeia. The passages is designed to commemorate Diomedes’ bravery and glory as a hero.
- Summary: Book 5
- Summary: Book 6
- Analysis: Books 5 & 6
As the battle rages, Pandarus wounds the Achaean hero Diomedes. Diomedes prays to Athena for revenge, and the goddess endows him with superhuman strength and the extraordinary power to discern gods on the field of battle. She warns him, however, not to challenge any of them except Aphrodite. Diomedes fights like a man possessed, slaughtering all Tr...
With the gods absent, the Achaean forces again overwhelm the Trojans, who draw back toward the city. Menelaus considers accepting a ransom in return for the life of Adrestus, a Trojan he has subdued, but Agamemnonpersuades him to kill the man outright. Nestor senses the Trojans weakening and urges the Achaeans not to bother stripping their fallen e...
The battle narratives in Books 5 and 6 (and the very end of Book 4) constitute the epic’s first descriptions of warfare, and, within the war as a whole, the first battles in which the sulking Achilles has not fought. Diomedes attempts to make up for the great warrior’s absence; the soothsayer Helenus declares, in reference to Diomedes, that “[h]e i...
In the Iliad, Robert Fagles provided a modern (1990 CE) translation of one of the most well-known Greek epic poems. The translation also includes an introduction by Bernard Knox, who provides a contextual discussion that is helpful for readers new to the genre.
Homer, Iliad, Book 5. book: card: [1] And now to Tydeus' son, Diomedes, Pallas Athene gave might and courage, that he should prove himself pre-eminent amid all the Argives, and win glorious renown. She kindled from his helm and shield flame unwearying, [5] like to the star of harvesttime that shineth bright above all others when he hath bathed ...
This translation is available in the form of a published book from Richer Resources Publications, and a complete recording of this translation is available at Naxos Audiobooks. If you would like a Word file of the entire poem, please contact Ian Johnston (there is no charge for this file).
Argument. The Acts of Diomed. Diomed, assisted by Pallas, performs wonders in this day’s battle. Pandarus wounds him with an arrow, but the goddess cures him, enables him to discern gods from mortals, and prohibits him from contending with any of the former, excepting Venus.
Homer - The Iliad: Book V of a new complete English translation with hyper-linked index.
