Automedon

For the ancient Greek poet, see Automedon (poet).

For the incident involving the WWII merchant ship Automedon, see the article: SS Automedon and the article: German auxiliary cruiser Atlantis.

In Greek mythology, Automedon /ɔːˈtɒmɨdən/ (Ancient Greek: Αὐτομέδων), son of Diores, was Achilles' charioteer. In Homer's Iliad, he rides into battle once Patroclus has donned Achilles's armor, commanding Achilles' horses Balius and Xanthos. After Patroclus's death, Automedon is driven to the rear of the battle, where he attempts to console the bereaved horses. Zeus finally intervenes, and Automedon resumes driving the chariot, but can not 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 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.

Sources

Homer. Iliad, XVI, 145; XVII, 429; XIX; XXIII; XIV.

Characters in the Iliad

Achaeans	Acamas Achilles Agamemnon Agapenor Ajax the Greater Ajax the Lesser Alcimus Anticlus Antilochus Arcesilaus Ascalaphus Automedon Balius and Xanthus Bias Calchas Diomedes Elephenor Epeius Eudoros Euneus Euryalus Eurybates Eurydamas Guneus Helen Ialmenus Idomeneus Leitus Leonteus Lykomedes Machaon Mecisteus Medon Meges Menelaus Menestheus Meriones Neoptolemus Nestor Nireus Odysseus Palamedes Patroclus Peneleos Philoctetes Phoenix Podalirius Podarces Polites Polypoetes Promachus Protesilaus Prothoenor Schedius Stentor Sthenelus Talthybius Teucer Thersites Thoas Thrasymedes Tlepolemus

Trojans	Aeneas Aesepus Agenor Alcathous Amphimachus Anchises Andromache Antenor Antiphates Antiphus Archelochus Asius Asteropaios Astyanax Atymnius Axylus Briseis Calesius Caletor Cassandra Chryseis Chryses Clytius Coön Dares Phrygius Deiphobus Dolon Epistrophus Eteoneus Euphemus Euphorbus Eurypylus Glaucus Gorgythion Halizones Hector Hecuba Helenus Hyperenor Hypsenor Ilioneus Imbrius Iphidamas Kebriones Laocoön Lycaon Melanippus Mentes Mydon Mygdon of Phrygia Othryoneus Pandarus Panthous Paris Pedasus Peirous Phorcys Polites Polydamas Polybus Polydorus Priam Pylaemenes Pylaeus Pyraechmes Rhesus of Thrace Sarpedon Theano Ucalegon