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Book Eleven
ism between the scenes, but not to a genetic relationship (but see nn. to
5.590-5): in book 5 a pair of Achaeans, Menelaos and Antilokhos, have
scored successes, Hektor rushes to the scene, Diomedes shudders at his approach.
The situation is thematic (cf. Fenik, TBS 64) and the three verses
themselves are strongly formular: 6£u vorjae 8x (2X with "Etcrcop), KOCTOC
orixocs 6x, copTO 8' ETT' OCUTOUS etc. 3X, I KEKAriycov 3X, u (verb)
9&Aayyes | 7X , TOV 8e iScov 12x , pof^v dyados Aio|if)8r|s 21 x . In the event
Diomedes' apprehension is not justified. There is a tension in the Iliad
between the philhellenism of the poet (cf. 10.13-411.) and the plot of the
poem, which requires an Achaean defeat. The prowess of Hektor is therefore
emphasized by statements such as the present, but the premise (1.242)
that without Akhilleus the rest would be helpless before Hektor is not
borne out by the narrative. Tlepolemos fell to Sarpedon and Patroklos to
the intervention of Apollo. In fact no leading Achaean is killed or even
wounded by Hektor in fair fight.
344 KeKAriycov: the Aeolic participle should not be restored in the nominative
case, see 168 n. The paradosis is everywhere KeKArjycos.
345 Diomedes is an Akhilleus-like character with redeeming features:
insubordinate at 9.326°., unafraid to attack gods (with divine permission)
in 5, over-confident at 9.48-9, unabashed at Akhilleus' refusal to help
(9.6976°.), he is modest before Agamemnon (4.4126°.), and here shudders
at the approach of Hektor but having resolved to stand his ground fells
him easily enough and then sinks to abuse; later he sneers at Paris' success
(OUK dAeyco, 389) and a moment afterwards leaps in agony onto his
chariot. Odysseus in contrast shows the steadiness that comes with age.
Since Hektor is plainly inferior to Aias in the duel in book 7 and by implication
at least to Agamemnon in this Book, it is clear that the Trojan front
rank (Hektor, Aineias, Sarpedon, and from book 13 onward Deiphobos
and Pouludamas) is conceived to be no match in the field for the leading
Achaeans. At 7.162—68 Agamemnon, Diomedes, both Aiantes, Idomeneus,
Meriones, Eurupulos, Thoas, and Odysseus are listed as willing to challenge
Hektor, but some of them perhaps had succumbed to Nestor's moral
blackmail, for the prayer of the Achaeans (7.175-80) was that Aias (sc. the
Telamonian), Diomedes, or Agamemnon himself should draw the lot to
fight the Trojan.
347 Trqiaa KUAIVSETOU (cf. 17.99, 17-688, Od. 2.163, 8.81): for the origin of
the metaphor cf. KOUOC KUAIVSEI (Od. 1.162, etc.).
348 = 22.231 ('Deiphobos' speaking to Hektor).
349-67 The poet seems momentarily to lose his sureness of touch. At
5.1666°. and 20.4196°. a Trojan counter-attacks an Achaean, is repulsed,
and is rescued by a god. (For a detailed comparison see Fenik, TBS 93-5.)
In books 5 and 20 the typical details combine to produce a clear picture;
here the poet cannot use the motif of divine rescue, because the gods
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