"The Iliad": Chapter 5

Chapter 5 starts out in the midst of the battle we saw initiated in Chapter 4. But this is a very focused battle. Everything seems revolves around this one Danaan, Diomedes (aka: Son of Tydeus) He appears to be a god-like warrior. He tears through the Trojans. But suddenly he is hit in his right shoulder with an arrow by Pandaros. "Rise up Trojans[.] Now the best of the the Achaians is hit," Pandaros cries.

But wait just a minute. Diomedes prays for help from the goddess Athena, who grants him strength and endurance. Plus, Athena removes the mist- the veil, so to speak, that hides the divine from the mortals eyes- from Diomedes' eyes with permission to stab Aphrodite if he sees her interfering with the battle. Now Diomedes is like a hornet's nest that has just been kicked.

Pandaros and Aineias now charge him in a chariot. Pandaros releases his spear which only pierces Diomedes' shield. But Diomedes succeeds in throwing his spear through Pandaros' skull. Aineias jumps from to the chariot to protect Pandaros' body since it fell from the chariot. With Herculean strength, Diomedes picks up boulder and hurls it towards Aineias. The boulder tears up his right hip, and he lies wounded on the ground.

Until his mother, Aphrodite, intervenes to assist him. (This could be trouble) Diomedes runs up to the goddess and promptly wounds her. (Who would've thought that a mortal could wound a god. You know.... outside the game "God of War.") Now she's crumpled to the ground. Now it's Iris the messenger to the rescue. She takes Aphrodite to Ares where Aphrodite asks for help getting back to Olympus. He obliges.

Now we find the goddess Aphrodite being attended to by her mother, Dione. She comforts the wounded goddess before healing her wounds. Aphrodite is then instructed by Zeus to stay away from the affairs of war.

We're back on the battlefield now. Diomedes is still blood-drunk. Still wanted Aineias dead. But now the god Apollo is watching over Aineias. Diomedes strikes thrice but is thwarted by Apollo. Apollo then carries Aineias to one of his temples. There Artemis and Leto heal and care for Aineias.

Apollo returns to leave a body in the likeness of Aineias on the field to enrage the Trojans at the Achaians. Then requests that Ares fight against the Achaians. Ares loves a good fight. Ares wakes the hearts of the Trojans.

Suddenly, Apollo brings Aineias back to the battle. The Trojans have the advantage. Agamemnon, Odysseus, etc... all encourage their men to fight the newly emboldened Trojans.

Hera soon notices how the Trojans have gained the upper hand. She then asks to help the Achaians. Zeus agrees. Now we have the goddess Athena in full battle armor with a good intention to slaughter the Trojans. (Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. I think I'm a little scared.)

Down on the battlefield Athena grabs up the battle wearied Diomedes to make a charge against Ares. The charge proves successful as Diomedes collects his second would on a divine being. We now find Ares back in Olympus complaining to Zeus, who shrugs if off as a necessary punishment for Ares. Hera and Athena then depart the battlefield and head back to Olympus.