Diomedes takes to the field in a demonstration of arete (excellence). He becomes, in a sense, the first study of the heroic. Against a backdrop of "normal," personal encounters, he sweeps across the field of combat. In an extended simile, Homer compares him to the natural force of a storm.

The Lykian bowman Pandaros wounds Diomedes. Athena heals him and gives him the ability to discern gods from men (thus he can excell without the danger of offending the gods). Significantly, Homer notes that he seeks Athena's help in his eagerness to attack. Frustrated that his shots have not accomplished anything, Pandaros rides with Aeneas toward a personal confrontation. Far from being frightened, Diomedes makes plans to take Aeneas' horses (if the gods are willing, he piously notes). When Diomedes kills Pandaros, Aeneas dismounts to protect the corpse and so loses his horses. Diomedes crushes his hip with a boulder and Aphrodite rescues her son. Diomedes attacks and wounds her. She returns to her mother Dione, who catalogs gods wounded by mortals. (According to later traditions, Aphrodite pays back Diomedes by causing him trouble, resulting in his emigration to Italy.) Meanwhile, Apollo protects Aeneas from Diomedes.

Why does Diomedes raise weapons against Apollo? Why does he desist?

A Thrakian captain -- actually Ares in disguise -- and the Lykian Sarpedon rally the Trojans by shaming them over their lack of enthusiasm in defending home and family. The Achaeans hold the field against the Trojans until Ares presses forward. Then everyone must give way until Athena and Hera take the field in return. Athena rallies the Achaeans by pointing out they did better when Achilles was fighting. (Here, and throughout the poem, Achilles is central to the action even when he is not physically present.) Guided by Athena, Diomedes wounds Ares. The gods withdraw, leaving the field to the humans.

How might we understand this juxtaposition of warring humans and feuding gods?