Character · Individual
Read-only identity and editorial metadata.
famous spearsman Idomeneus
Epithet · Direct
lawgiver to the Cretans
Title · Direct
Son of Deucalion
Descriptive reference · Direct
Phase 6 currently covers 24 processed books.
Idomeneus crosses the Achaeans’ trench with the summoned chiefs before meeting beyond it.
“With this he passed the trench, and with him the other chiefs of the Achaeans who had been called to the council. Meriones and the brave son of Nestor went also, for the princes bade them. When they were beyond the trench that was dug round the wall they held their meeting on the open ground”
Idomeneus is a famous spearsman who leads the peoples of Crete with Meriones.
“The famous spearsman Idomeneus led the Cretans, who held Cnossus, and the well-walled city of Gortys; Lyctus also, Miletus and Lycastus that lies upon the chalk; the populous towns of Phaestus and Rhytium, with the other peoples that dwelt in the hundred cities of Crete. All these were led by Idomeneus, and by Meriones, peer of murderous Mars. And with these there came eighty ships.”
Helen sees Idomeneus among the Cretans looking like a god with their captains around him, and remembers Menelaus often hosting him when he visited from Crete.
“stands Idomeneus looking like a god, and with the captains of the Cretans round him. Often did Menelaus receive him as a guest in our house when he came visiting us from Crete”
Idomeneus heads the arming Cretans, fierce as a wild boar.
“Idomeneus, who was at their head, fierce as a wild boar”
Idomeneus renews his promise to be Agamemnon’s trusty comrade.
“I will be a trusty comrade, as I promised you from the first I would be”
Idomeneus kills Phaesus by spearing his right shoulder as he mounts his chariot.
“Then Idomeneus killed Phaesus, son of Borus the Meonian, who had come from Varne. Mighty Idomeneus speared him on the right shoulder as he was mounting his chariot, and the darkness of death enshrouded him as he fell heavily from the car.”
Andromache says Idomeneus has thrice assaulted the wall’s weak point with other foremost Achaeans.
“Thrice have the bravest of them come thither and assailed it, under the two Ajaxes, Idomeneus, the sons of Atreus, and the brave son of Tydeus”
Idomeneus is among the nine Achaean champions who rise to answer Hector’s challenge.
“forthwith nine men started to their feet. Foremost of all uprose King Agamemnon, and after him brave Diomed the son of Tydeus. Next were the two Ajaxes, men clothed in valour as with a garment, and then Idomeneus, and Meriones his brother in arms. After these Eurypylus son of Euaemon, Thoas the son of Andraemon, and Ulysses also rose”
Agamemnon describes Meriones as Idomeneus’s brother-in-arms.
“Meriones brother in arms to Idomeneus, are captains over them.”
Idomeneus orders Nestor to carry Machaon to the ships, valuing his medical skill above several men.
“Idomeneus said to Nestor, ‘Nestor son of Neleus, honour to the Achaean name, mount your chariot at once; take Machaon with you and drive your horses to the ships as fast as you can. A physician is worth more than several other men put together, for he can cut out arrows and spread healing herbs”
Idomeneus is foretold to kill Asius with his spear.
“he had fallen by the spear of Idomeneus the noble son of Deucalion”
Idomeneus orders physicians to treat a knee-wounded comrade, then continues while still eager for battle.
“Idomeneus met him, as he was taking leave of a comrade, who had just come to him from the fight, wounded in the knee. His fellow-soldiers bore him off the field, and Idomeneus having given orders to the physicians went on to his tent, for he was still thirsting for battle.”
Idomeneus asserts that the Achaeans remain willing fighters, praises Thoas, and urges him to hearten others.
“no one, so far as I know, is in fault, for we can all fight. None are held back neither by fear nor slackness, but it seems to be the will of almighty Jove that the Achaeans should perish ingloriously here far from Argos: you, Thoas, have been always staunch, and you keep others in heart if you see any fail in duty; be not then remiss now, but exhort all to do their utmost.”
Idomeneus dons armour, takes two spears, and runs out gleaming like lightning.
“Idomeneus when he had reached his tent donned his armour, grasped his two spears, and sallied forth. As the lightning which the son of Saturn brandishes from bright Olympus when he would show a sign to mortals, and its gleam flashes far and wide—even so did his armour gleam about him as he ran.”
Idomeneus says he would rather fight than remain in his tent.
“I want no fetching; I had far rather fight than stay in my tent.”
Idomeneus keeps captured Trojan spears, shields, helmets, and burnished corslets, proving he fights at close range.
“You will find one spear, or twenty if you so please, standing up against the end wall of my tent. I have taken them from Trojans whom I have killed, for I am not one to keep my enemy at arm’s length; therefore I have spears, bossed shields, helmets, and burnished corslets.”
Idomeneus goes to battle beside Meriones in bronze armour.
“even so did Meriones and Idomeneus, captains of men, go out to battle clad in their bronze armour.”
Idomeneus advances like flame beside his squire in richly wrought armour.
“Idomeneus coming on like a flame of fire, him and his squire clad in their richly wrought armour”
Grey-flecked Idomeneus calls to the Danaans, spreads panic, and leaps among the Trojans.
“Idomeneus, though his hair was already flecked with grey, called loud on the Danaans and spread panic among the Trojans as he leaped in among them.”
Idomeneus drags Othryoneus by the foot, then spears Asius through the throat.
“With this Idomeneus began dragging him by the foot through the thick of the fight, but Asius came up to protect the body, on foot, in front of his horses which his esquire drove so close behind him that he could feel their breath upon his shoulder. He was longing to strike down Idomeneus, but ere he could do so Idomeneus smote him with his spear in the throat under the chin, and the bronze point went clean through it. He fell as an oak, or poplar, or pine which shipwrights have felled for ship’s timber upon the mountains with whetted axes—even thus did he lie full length in front of his chariot and horses, grinding his teeth and clutching at the bloodstained dust.”
Idomeneus anticipates Deiphobus’s spear and crouches behind his round ox-hide-and-bronze shield with two arm-rods.
“Idomeneus was on the look-out and avoided it, for he was covered by the round shield he always bore—a shield of oxhide and bronze with two arm-rods on the inside. He crouched under cover of this, and the spear flew over him, but the shield rang out as the spear grazed it”
Evidence records not already represented by a claim.
“Idomeneus”
“The famous spearsman Idomeneus”
“stands Idomeneus looking like a god”
“Idomeneus dared not stay”
“brave Idomeneus”
“Idomeneus”
“Ajax and King Idomeneus”
“Idomeneus and Meriones”
“Nestor, Idomeneus, and the knight Phoenix”
“Meriones, squire to Idomeneus”