Henri Regnault: Automedon with the Horses of Achilles (1868)

In Greek mythology, Automedon (/ɔːˈtɒmɪdən/; Ancient Greek: Αὐτομέδων), son of Diores,[1] was Achilles' charioteer, who drove the immortal horses Balius and Xanthos.[2]

Mythology

In Homer's Iliad, Automedon rides into battle once Patroclus dons Achilles's armor, commanding Achilles' horses Balius and Xanthos. After Patroclus dies, Automedon is driven to the rear of the battle, where he tries to console the bereaved horses.

Zeus finally intervenes, and Automedon resumes driving the chariot,[3] but cannot aid the Achaeans until Alcimedon agrees to be his driver. He repels an attempt on his life by Hector, Aeneas, Chromios, and Aretos, killing Aretos[4] and taking his armor in the process. He also appears in the Aeneid at line 477 of Book II, when the Greek forces break into the palace of Priam.

Notes

  1. ^ Homer, Iliad 17.429 & 474
  2. ^ The New Century Classical Handbook; Catherine Avery, editor; Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1962, p. 205:
    "Automedon...In Homeric legend (Iliad), a son of Diores. He was Achilles' charioteer, the driver of the immortal horses Balius and Xanthus."
  3. ^ The New Century Classical Handbook; Catherine Avery, editor; Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1962, p. 205: "Automedon...was Achilles' charioteer, the driver of the immortal horses Balius and Xanthus. After the death of Patroclus, who had borrowed the[m]...the horses...refused to leave the battlefield. Automedon could not persuade them...and finally, after Zeus had assured them that they would never fall into Hectors hands, Automedon drove them back"
  4. ^ The New Century Classical Handbook; Catherine Avery, editor; Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1962, p. 144: "Aretus...was slain by Achilles' charioteer, Automedon"

References

External links

Characters in the Iliad
Virgil's Aeneid (19 BC)
Categories