Examples Of Diomedes In The Iliad

How does one define the best? Who is the best? And how do you know he or she is the best? The best is willing to prove it. In the case of the Iliad, Diomedes proves that he is the best on several different occasions. He does this by showing different characteristics of himself that help the reader see why he is the best. Diomedes shows that he is the best of the Achaeans by showing what an excellent fighter he is, using his bravery in the face of battle, and by showing he has a softer side that values friendship and his fellow man over glory and fame. Diomedes proves he is an excellent fighter multiple times throughout the Iliad. He has injured or killed dozens of Trojans and doesn’t stop. In Book 5, he really shows his strength as a fighter.

But there are a couple that stand out. He is never afraid to stand out and it seems that he is not afraid of anything. He is also willing to stand up and volunteer for anything thrown towards his allies. In book 8, he is the first into battle, faster than anyone else. “But none of the many Danaäns/ could claim that they turned their swift horses faster than/ Diomedes, the son of Tydeus, to drive them across the ditch/ and to fight in the hand-to-hand. Diomedes was the first one/ to strike a man in armor,” (VIII.256-260). Being the first person to possible face death takes a lot of bravery and courage. Obviously no one else is as brave as Diomedes because he was the first. Even facing death, Diomedes still decides to face his fears and go into battle, further proving his bravery and how he is the best of the Achaeans. But his bravery doesn’t stop here, he goes on to volunteer for a mission which is highly unusual and dangerous. Nestor has asked who of the Achaeans will go on to enter the Trojan camp at night to spy on them. Diomedes volunteers. “So Nestor spoke, and everybody fell into silence. / Then Diomedes, good at the war cry spoke: / ‘Nestor, my heart and my proud spirt urges me / to enter the army of the enemy Trojans camped nearby’” (X.219-222). He does not hesitate to go into the Trojan camp, and it pays off. He is able to kill dozens of Trojans with this mission. Diomedes’ choice to do what no others

He shows his caring and friendly nature several times throughout the Iliad. The most noteable time was with Glaukos. Instead of fighting to the death, Diomedes asks who he is. And once realizing that their fathers knew each other, Diomedes puts aside his fighting skills and greets Glaukos as a friend. “Let us avoid one another’s spears even in the thick of battle. For there/ are many Trojans for me to kill, and their far-famed/ allies too … Let us now exchange armor/ with one another so that these other men might know/ that we are guest-friends from the days of our fathers” (VI.226-228, VI.231-233). Diomedes values friendship over the glory of killing a Trojan. He knows that there are plenty of Trojans to kill but only one Glaukos. Also, he tells of how he doesn’t know his father, and Glaukos’ father and Tydeus knew each other so Glaukos is a connection to his father for Diomedes. However, he isn’t only friendly and caring with friends of his fathers. He is friends and companions with Odysseus and Nestor and this theme continues throughout the entirety of the book. Diomedes saves Nestor’s life on the battlefield. Nestor would have died if Diomedes had not come into the