Doloneia, Agamemnon's Aristeia, and the Foreshadowing of Hektor's Downfall

After the embassy returned without me, Agamemnon gets worried and sends out an expedition to spy on the Trojans. Diomedes volunteers and chooses Odysseus to accompany him. Unaware, the Trojans were also planning on sending a spy. Hektor chose Dolon to do this task for them. While each were crossing into the others territory, Dolon was spotted by Diomedes and Odysseus, who proceeded to chase him down. Odysseus then interrogated Dolon who reveals facts about the Trojan camp and the Thracian King Rhesos. Diomedes then ruthlessly kills Dolon despite begging for his life to be spared. The two Greeks then advance to the Thracians where they attack and kill them in their sleep, leaving with the King’s chariot. At dawn the battle raged on again. Previously I had told Agamemnon he was only a speaker of words not a doer of deeds. In this battle though Agamemnon battles aggressively and even gets wounded among many other Greeks as the Trojans advanced to the Greek fleet of ships. Agamemnon’s armor is described, detailing a picture of Medusa, and depictions of fear and terror. Hektor and Diomedes begin battling each other, with Hektor’s helmet deflecting a spear. Paris shoots an arrow that wounds Diomedes in his heel, however Diomedes laughs it off. I thought it was actually pretty funny considering their difference in statures that Paris thinks an arrow to the heel will actually affect one of the great warriors the Greeks have to offer. Odysseus also is wounded in this battle, as well as the Greek healer Machaon. At this point Nestor implores Patroklos to convince me to return to the war as things are getting desperate for the Greeks. The downfall to Hektor becomes apparent next. Similar to Agamemnon sick of hearing only bad news from Nestor earlier in the war, Hektor doesn’t like the advice he receives from Polydamas that they will not be able to pass the Greek ditch with horses. He doesn’t heed this advice. He is able to use a large stone to smash through the wall though and the Trojans broke through, but their advantage will not last long as long as he’s on the attack. Hektor is perhaps an invincible defender of his city, but as he goes on the attack he loses this attribute and becomes vulnerable, therefore Troy becomes vulnerable.