There are multiple figures in Greek mythology named Diomedes, including a Trojan War hero who founded cities in Italy and a giant who owned man-eating horses captured by Hercules. The Trojan War hero was favored by Athena and eventually granted immortality, but returned home to find his wife unfaithful and lost his throne. The two Diomedes are easily distinguishable, but there are other figures with the same name.
Several people in Greek mythology called themselves Diomedes. Most famously Diomedes was a Trojan War hero who later founded several cities in Italy. A lesser known Diomedes was a giant who lived on the shores of the Black Sea with his four man-eating mares; these fierce horses were captured by Hercules as part of his 12 labors. Several other Diomedes can be found rattling in various Greek accounts, further confusing the matter.
The Trojan war hero Diomedes was the king of Argos and a famous warrior. In addition to being very skilled on the battlefield, this Diomedes also enjoyed the favor of Athena, who provided him with advice, weapons and luck on the battlefield. His role in the Trojan War varies, depending on the story, but he is generally depicted as a major player in the conflict and in some cases even accompanies the warriors inside the Trojan horse.
Unfortunately for Diomedes, he seems to have been away from home too long, as on his return to Argos he found that his wife had been unfaithful to him and he had been supplanted as king. Diomedes ended up moving to Italy, where he would found several cities and upon his death he was granted the gift of immortality by Athena. In some stories, Diomedes is treated as a lesser god, along with other mortals who have been given immortality by the gods.
Diomedes with the man-eating mares was the king of Thrace, and the son of Ares and a nymph. Most stories describe this Diomedes as a giant who ruled over a tribe of warriors, and was eventually fed to his infamous horses by Hercules. The mares’ ultimate fate is a matter of debate, as some stories of the labors of Hercules describe them as tamed and allowed to roam free, while others state that they were sent to Zeus as a sacrifice.
Given the vastly different lives and natures of these two Diomedes, it’s usually easy to tell which one is at issue from the context. However, there are other Diomedes, such as a Trojan prince and mistress of Achilles, who is usually known as Diomedes, rather than Diomedes. Incidentally, the name “Diomedes” means “of the divine counsel” and the name is not uncommon in modern Greece as well.
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