Character · Individual
Read-only identity and editorial metadata.
son of Diores
Descriptive reference · Direct
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Automedon attended Achilles inside the house.
“The old man went straight into the house where Achilles, loved of the gods, was sitting. There he found him with his men seated at a distance from him: only two, the hero Automedon, and Alcimus of the race of Mars, were busy in attendance about his person”
Automedon accompanied Achilles through the door of the house.
“Then the son of Peleus sprang like a lion through the door of his house, not alone, but with him went his two squires Automedon and Alcimus”
Automedon is bidden to yoke the horses with all speed and is described as held in honour next after Achilles and relied upon most firmly for support in battle.
“He bade Automedon yoke his horses with all speed, for he was the man whom he held in honour next after Achilles, and on whose support in battle he could rely most firmly.”
Automedon arms beside Patroclus in front of the host, the two united in purpose to lead the Myrmidons.
“In front of them all two men put on their armour—Patroclus and Automedon—two men, with but one mind to lead the Myrmidons.”
Automedon reacts instantly, draws the blade at his thigh, cuts dead Pedasus loose, and restores the two-horse team to battle.
“but Automedon knew what to do; without the loss of a moment he drew the keen blade that hung by his sturdy thigh and cut the third horse adrift; whereon the other two righted themselves, and pulling hard at the reins again went together into battle.”
Hector pursues Automedon to kill him, but the immortal horses carry the squire swiftly from the field.
“He then went spear in hand after Automedon, squire of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, for he longed to lay him low, but the immortal steeds which the gods had given as a rich gift to Peleus bore him swiftly from the field.”
Automedon repeatedly lashes the horses, alternately speaking kindly and rebuking them, but cannot make them return or enter battle.
“Automedon, valiant son of Diores, lashed them again and again; many a time did he speak kindly to them, and many a time did he upbraid them, but they would neither go back to the ships by the waters of the broad Hellespont, nor yet into battle among the Achaeans”
Grieving Automedon dashes at full speed through Trojans with vulture-like pursuit but kills no one because alone he cannot wield his spear and manage the horses.
“Behind them fought Automedon full of sorrow for his comrade, as a vulture amid a flock of geese. In and out, and here and there, full speed he dashed amid the throng of the Trojans, but for all the fury of his pursuit he killed no man, for he could not wield his spear and keep his horses in hand when alone in the chariot;”
Automedon judges Alcimedon the best living controller of the immortal horses after Patroclus, instructs him to take whip and reins, and plans to dismount and fight.
“Automedon son of Diores answered, ‘Alcimedon, there is no one else who can control and guide the immortal steeds so well as you can, save only Patroclus—while he was alive—peer of gods in counsel. Take then the whip and reins, while I go down from the car and fight.’”
Automedon prays to Jove and is immediately filled with abundant courage and strength.
“Automedon, who prayed to father Jove and was forthwith filled with courage and strength abounding.”
Automedon calls the Ajaxes and Menelaus to rescue the living crew, reports Hector and Aeneas pressing hard, and commits to hurling his spear while leaving the outcome to Jove.
“On this he cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelaus, ‘Ajaxes captains of the Argives, and Menelaus, give the dead body over to them that are best able to defend it, and come to the rescue of us living; for Hector and Aeneas who are the two best men among the Trojans, are pressing us hard in the full tide of war. Nevertheless the issue lies on the lap of heaven, I will therefore hurl my spear and leave the rest to Jove.’”
Automedon ducks Hector’s spear, is spared sword combat when the Ajaxes intervene, then strips Aretus’s armour and boasts that the kill only slightly eases grief for Patroclus.
“Hector then aimed a spear at Automedon but he saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it, so that it flew past him and the point stuck in the ground, while the butt-end went on quivering till Mars robbed it of its force. They would then have fought hand to hand with swords had not the two Ajaxes forced their way through the crowd when they heard their comrade calling, and parted them for all their fury—for Hector, Aeneas, and Chromius were afraid and drew back, leaving Aretus to lie there struck to the heart. Automedon, peer of fleet Mars, then stripped him of his armour and vaunted over him saying, ‘I have done little to assuage my sorrow for the son of Menoetius, for the man I have killed is not so good as he was.’”
Automedon lays bloodstained spoils on his chariot and mounts with hands and feet steeped in gore, likened to a lion gorged on a bull.
“he took the blood-stained spoils and laid them upon his chariot; then he mounted the car with his hands and feet all steeped in gore as a lion that has been gorging upon a bull.”
Automedon helps harness Achilles’s horses, fastening bands, fitting bits, and drawing back the reins, then mounts behind them with the whip.
“Automedon and Alcimus busied themselves with the harnessing of his horses; they made the bands fast about them, and put the bit in their mouths, drawing the reins back towards the chariot. Automedon, whip in hand, sprang up behind the horses”
Automedon fetched the breastplate from the tent at Achilles’s command.
“He bade his comrade Automedon bring the breastplate from his tent, and he did so.”
Automedon is one of only two attendants serving Achilles.
“only two, the hero Automedon, and Alcimus of the race of Mars, were busy in attendance about his person”
Evidence records not already represented by a claim.
“Automedon held the meat while Achilles chopped it”
“Automedon, valiant son of Diores”
“Automedon and Alcimus busied themselves”
“the hero Automedon”