Why Does Diomedes Attack the Gods?

Book 5 of The Iliad really made me question about Diomedes' agency. In the book , Diomedes Attacks the Gods, Diomedes stabs the wrists of Aphrodite and repeatedly charges at Apollo. Apollo then calls out to Ares, " 'Ares, Ares, destroyer of men, reeking blood, stormer of the ramparts, can't you go and drag that man from the fighting? That daredevil Diomedes, he'd fight Father Zeus! He's just assaulted Love, he stabbed her wrist- like something superhuman he even charged at me!' "(5.523-528). What is it that drove Diomedes to act this way? In an earlier section of that book, lines 126-147, Diomedes prays to Athena and Athena answers him saying, " 'Now take heart, Diomedes, fight it out with the Trojans! Deep in your chest, I've put your father's strength. He never quaked,... you must not fight the immortal powers head-on, all but one of the deathless gods, that is- if Aphrodite daughter of Zeus slips into battle she's the one to stab with your sharp bronze spear!' "(5.136-147)

Sure enough, when Diomedes is faced with the goddess, Aphrodites, he takes his sharp brazen point spear and gouges her wrists. The reason he did this is entirely because he was told by Athena to do so. In this situation, you can see that Diomedes did this act without any constraints, however, he did it without the will to make a choice of his own. Further on in the book, Diomedes meets Aeneas who is guarded by the god, Apollo. Although Diomedes did see Apollo himself, Diomedes goes ahead and charges at Aeneas in attempt to kill Aeneas and strip him of his famous armor. This is what brought up the question for me about Diomedes' agency. Athena had specifically told him that he should not attack any of the gods or goddesses unless it was Aphrodite, but why did Diomedes continue to charge at Apollo? Perhaps it was the power of his father Athena had given him that made Diomedes unafraid to attack a god. Or perhaps it was because Athena's words were merely a warning and not an actual command.

After the fourth attack, Apollo orders Diomedes to back down and Diomedes follows his command and pulls back. Although Diomedes was determined to kill Aeneas, frenzied to bring him down, Diomedes does not because Apollo does not because Athena demands him not to. Why did Diomedes let this external constraint stop him from completing what it was he desired to do? This is where my questions were answered. It is simply because Diomedes, like the rest of the mortal men, are limited to act freely. Because the gods are so heavily praised, they are able to control and sway the actions of the mortals. Their limit ends when it comes to those higher than them, the gods. This concept of limited agency is apparent in our world today. We follow the laws, correct? The laws constrains from carrying out certain actions, correct? Therefore, our agency is also limited.

Word count: 514

Works Cited

Homer. The Iliad. Trans. Robert Fagles. NY: Penguin Books, 1990.

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