Diomedes

Ten years later, the sons of the heroes slain in the first war resolved to avenge their fathers and marched against Thebes. They were called the Epigoni, meaning descendants. Diomedes joined them from Argos. The Delphic oracle advised them to place Alcmaeon, son of Amphiaraus, in command. Alcmaeon hesitated because his father had ordered him to avenge himself on their mother, Eriphyle, before taking part in another war against Thebes.

Thersander, son of Polynices, persuaded Eriphyle to send Alcmaeon and his brother Amphilochus to war. He bribed her with the beautiful veil of Harmonia, which Polynices had left to him. Eriphyle’s influence overcame Alcmaeon’s resistance, and the brothers joined the expedition. The Epigoni then attacked Thebes. Aegialeus, son of Adrastus, was killed by Laodamas, son of Eteocles. Alcmaeon killed Laodamas in return.

The Thebans were defeated. On the advice of Tiresias, they sent a herald to discuss surrender while secretly loading their women and children onto wagons. They fled during the night, leaving the city behind. Tiresias went with them and died soon afterwards at the spring called Tilphussa. The refugees founded Hestiaea and settled there.

The Epigoni entered the deserted city, plundered it, and flattened its walls. Most of the Argive commanders returned to their own countries with booty. The throne of Thebes was given to Thersander. In another account, Laodamas escaped with the other Thebans, while Thersander himself led the expedition and later became king of Thebes. A further variant says that Alcmaeon later learned that Eriphyle had been bribed with the Robe of Harmonia and killed her when he returned.

Tydeus fled Calydon after killing a member of his family. Some accounts name Alcathoos, a brother of Oineus. The author of the Alcmaeonid says that Tydeus killed the sons of Melas, who had plotted against Oineus: Pheneus, Euryalos, Hyperlaos, Antiochos, Eumedes, Sternops, Xanthippos, and Sthenelaos. Pherecydes gives another account, in which Tydeus killed his own brother, Olenias. When Agrios tried to bring charges against him, Tydeus escaped to Argos and sought refuge with Adrastos.

There, outside the royal palace, Tydeus met Polynices in the darkness. Polynices mistook him for an enemy, and they began to fight. Adrastos heard the noise and separated them. By torchlight, he saw a lion on Polynices’ shield and a boar on Tydeus’ shield. Polynices carried the lion for Heracles, while Tydeus carried the boar in memory of the Calydonian hunt. Adrastos then gave Tydeus his daughter Deipyle in marriage. She bore a son, Diomedes, who was born at Argos and raised under Adrastos’ protection.

Tydeus joined Adrastos’ expedition against Thebes as one of its seven leaders. At Nemea, the army searched for water. Hypsipyle led them to a spring, leaving behind Opheltes, the infant son of Eurydice and Lycourgos. A snake killed the child. The Argives killed the snake and buried Opheltes, whom they renamed Archemoros. At the games held in his honour, Tydeus won the boxing.

Melanippos later wounded Tydeus during the campaign, and Tydeus died. Diomedes remained in Argos, joined the Epigoni, and secretly returned with Alcmaion to attack the sons of Agrios. He later succeeded Adrastos as ruler of Argos and Tiryns and led the Argives at Troy.

Diomedes married Aegialia, also called Aigialeia, the daughter of Adrastus and Amphithea. Adrastus was king of Argos. Diomedes later succeeded his father-in-law as ruler of Argos and Tiryns.

Before the marriage, Tydeus fled to Argos after he killed a man. In one telling, he killed Alcathoos, a brother of Oineus. In another, he killed the sons of Melas after they plotted against Oineus. Pherecydes said that Tydeus killed his own brother, Olenias. Tydeus married Deipyle, another daughter of Adrastus, and she bore Diomedes. Tydeus joined Adrastus in the expedition against Thebes, where Melanippos wounded him and caused his death.

Diomedes remained in Argos and became one of the Epigoni. The sons of Agrios seized Oineus' kingdom, gave it to their father, imprisoned Oineus, and ill-treated him. Diomedes then arrived secretly from Argos with Alcmaeon and killed most of the sons of Agrios. The telling ended before it gave the full outcome. Diomedes later succeeded Adrastus and became ruler of Argos and Tiryns.

Diomedes led the Argives at Troy. During the fighting, he wounded Aphrodite when she tried to save her son Aeneas. Later tellings attributed Aegialia's infidelity to Aphrodite's anger after Diomedes wounded her.

Penthesilea charged at the head of Priam’s household, while her white horse swept through the Greek ranks. She had come to Troy with twelve Amazon companions after Ares accidentally killed Hippolyta. Distraught by the death, she sought an honourable end in battle and vowed to kill Achilles. Priam saw an eagle holding a dove, an omen that boded ill for her expedition.

She killed Molios, Persinoos, Eilissos, Antiphates, Lernos, Hippalmos, Haemonides, and Elasippus. Her companions Derinoe and Clonie each killed a Greek chief. Podarkes killed Clonie, and Penthesilea cut off his hand. Idomeneus killed Bremousa, Meriones killed Evadre, and Diomedes killed Alcibie and Derimacheia. The Amazons’ bodyguard was reduced as the battle continued.

Achilles met Penthesilea in the fighting and drove his spear through her breast. Another account says that he first speared her horse, bringing horse and rider down together. Her helmet fell, and the Greeks saw her face as she died. Some traditions show Achilles holding her body or supporting her after the death blow, with their eyes meeting. He felt pity and remorse, thinking that he should have spared her and married her instead.

Thersites mocked Achilles for his alleged passion for the dead Amazon. One account says that he gouged out Penthesilea’s eyes with his spear point. Diomedes killed Thersites for the insult and threw his body into the river. Achilles then sailed to Lesbos, sacrificed to Apollo, and was purified by Odysseus for the killing, as recorded in the Aethiopis. Diodorus Siculus calls Penthesilea the last Amazon to win distinction for bravery, after which the race declined and disappeared.

Dolon ran towards the Greek ships wearing a grey wolf’s hide and carrying his bow. Hector had promised him the horses of Rhesus, which were said to be the best in the world. Odysseus saw him and told Diomedes to let him pass. They lay among the battle dead until Dolon had gone by, then rose and pursued him like two greyhounds chasing a hare.

Near the Greek sentinels, Diomedes ordered Dolon to stop or face death. His spear passed over Dolon’s shoulder. Dolon halted, trembling, and offered ransom. He said that his wealthy father would pay gold, bronze, and iron for his release. Diomedes refused to spare him because he feared that Dolon would return to spy on the Greeks. He struck off Dolon’s head with his sword. The two Greeks hid Dolon’s cap, bow, and spear, and marked the place so that they could recover them.

They then reached the camp of Rhesus, the Thracian king. No watch-fire burned there, and no guards stood outside. Diomedes moved among the sleeping men and killed them. Odysseus seized the bodies by the feet and dragged them aside. The horses had never been in battle and might shy if they were led over the dead. Diomedes killed Rhesus. Odysseus led out the king’s horses, striking them with his bow because he had left the whip in the chariot.

They had no time to take the chariot. They mounted the horses and rode towards the ships, stopping on the way to recover Dolon’s spear, bow, and cap.