Diomedes is the king of Argos and one of the generals in the Trojan War. He is also a close friend of Odysseus, and the two have a rough banter which establishes them as equals. Diomedes was one of Helen’s suitors, and he later goes with Odysseus to find Achilles on Scyros, where the two trick Achilles out of hiding by feigning an attack. Diomedes then threatens to tell everyone that Achilles was dressed as a woman unless Achilles agrees to fight in Troy, while Odysseus smooths things over and tries to convince Achilles more diplomatically. Both Odysseus and Diomedes are both intelligent and both favored by the goddess Athena, though their personalities are very different: Diomedes is loud and crass, while Odysseus is careful. Patroclus and Achilles both dislike and distrust Diomedes, whose cruel humor disturbs them; this distrust is cemented when Diomedes assists Agamemnon in sacrificing Iphigenia. Diomedes uses skillful manipulation to help quell the Greek army’s attempted mutinies, and Patroclus later guesses that he and Odysseus wanted Agamemnon to fail as a commander so they could take over.
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Diomedes Character Timeline in The Song of Achilles
The timeline below shows where the character Diomedes appears in The Song of Achilles. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 14
...should have asked—he didn’t because he already knew Odysseus. Odysseus’s companion, the king of Argos, Diomedes, introduces himself as well, and Patroclus recognizes him as another suitor. As they all eat,...
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...is, Lycomedes responds that she’s visiting family. After the dance, Odysseus announces that he and Diomedes brought presents for the women and for the king: gems and silver in large trunks....
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Patroclus notices Diomedes speaking to a servant; he assumes the conversation isn’t important, because Diomedes looks bored. Achilles...
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Chapter 15
...is annoyed by Odysseus’s trickery. Odysseus responds that it wasn’t mere jesting, though: he and Diomedes want him to come to Troy. If he doesn’t, Diomedes threatens they’ll tell everyone about...
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Achilles and Patroclus leave Scyros that afternoon, planning to sail to Phthia with Odysseus and Diomedes. Lycomedes comes to say goodbye. There’s only one thing left to do, though Achilles is...
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...something enormously rare. It almost makes Patroclus like Odysseus, but he still can’t trust him. Diomedes scorns the prow piece, and Achilles is amused by the Odysseus and Diomedes rough dynamic....
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Chapter 17
As they disembark, Agamemnon waits for them on the beach, standing next to Odysseus, Diomedes, and Menelaus. Agamemnon has a harsh and commanding presence; Menelaus’s gives a somewhat softer impression...
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Chapter 18
...later, an excited Iphigenia arrives. The marketplace has been set up for the wedding—Agamemnon, Odysseus, Diomedes, Calchas, and Achilles wait on a dais. Iphigenia is barely fourteen; when she hugs her...
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...Achilles has a “tender heart,” Odysseus says—and instructs Patroclus to tell Achilles that they placed Diomedes on purpose so that Achilles would witness the sacrifice too late. He gives Patroclus some...
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Chapter 19
The army sets sail for Troy the next day. Patroclus tells Achilles about Diomedes being deliberately placed so that Achilles couldn’t intervene, but it doesn’t help. Achilles is listless....
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Chapter 20
...should be diplomatic and send a parley to the Trojan king, Priam. Menelaus supports this, Diomedes is against it, and Odysseus sees both sides: diplomacy makes them seem like heroes, not...
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...Menelaus will be in the center, Achilles on the left, Odysseus on the right, and Diomedes and Ajax on the wings. These are prestigious positions. Some men are angry that Agamemnon...
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Chapter 21
...cries are audible. Patroclus has Achilles claim as many of the girls as possible, and Diomedes jokes that he didn’t even know Achilles liked girls. Each girl goes to Briseis first,...
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Chapter 22
...and Hector. Priam said that Helen didn’t want to leave and that they’d defend her; Diomedes thinks this is a clever way for the Trojans to avoid their guilt. Agamemnon announces...
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Patroclus learns the Greeks’ fighting styles. Agamemnon hides behind his army and shouts orders, Diomedes fights like an animal, and Odysseus fakes out his opponents and kills at close range....
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Chapter 24
...Odysseus establishes a project to keep the men busy: building a fence around the camp. Diomedes stresses the urgency of this task: if the Trojans were to burn the Greeks’ ships,...
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Chapter 25
...instead he stands tall and claims that his daughter was taken “unlawfully” from their temple. Diomedes and Odysseus nod at his speech, and Menelaus is about to say something, but suddenly...
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Chapter 26
Shocked, Agamemnon says that his counselors—Odysseus and Diomedes—didn’t mention this. Patroclus replies that maybe they want Agamemnon to die so that Menelaus will...
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Chapter 29
...shot by an arrow. Nestor, who is also injured, screams about the other wounded kings: Diomedes, Agamemnon, Odysseus. Machaon asks if Patroclus can speak to Achilles. Patroclus remembers the story about...
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