ARGUMENT OF THE TENTH BOOK.
Diomede and Ulysses enter the Trojan host by night, and slay Rhesus.
The Annotated Edition
ARGUMENT OF THE TENTH BOOK. by Homer
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This is the argument (a brief prose summary) for Book Ten of Homer's *Iliad*, often referred to as the "Doloneia." It recounts a perilous night raid where the Greek heroes Diomedes and Odysseus (Ulysses) quietly infiltrate the Trojan camp, eliminate the Thracian king Rhesus, and make off with his famed horses just before sunrise.
- Poet
- Homer
- Themes
- courage, death, identity
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
This is the argument (a brief prose summary) for Book Ten of Homer's *Iliad*, often referred to as the "Doloneia." It recounts a perilous night raid where the Greek heroes Diomedes and Odysseus (Ulysses) quietly infiltrate the Trojan camp, eliminate the Thracian king Rhesus, and make off with his famed horses just before sunrise. This episode stands out as one of the most thrilling and suspenseful moments in the entire epic.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
Diomede and Ulysses enter the Trojan host by night, and slay Rhesus.
Editor's note
This brief summary captures the essence of *Iliad* Book 10. Diomedes and Odysseus step up for a nighttime reconnaissance mission in enemy territory. They capture a Trojan scout named Dolon, gather valuable information from him, and then venture further into the camp to locate Rhesus—a Thracian king allied with Troy, known for his stunning white horses, which are the real prize. They kill Rhesus and his men in their sleep, take the horses, and make their escape back to the Greek ships before dawn. This summary distills the episode down to its essentials: two men, a dangerous camp, and an act of killing.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
Terse and martial. The argument leaves no space for emotion or reflection—it feels like a military dispatch, reflecting the cold efficiency of the raid itself. The mention of "by night" suggests stealth and danger, creating a striking contrast with the open, daylight heroism typical of most Iliadic battles.
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- Night
- The darkness of the raid represents a twist on traditional heroic values. In epic tales, glory is typically achieved through open battles in daylight; conducting operations at night suggests cleverness over brute force and hints at a sense of moral uncertainty.
- Rhesus
- The Thracian king represents the extensive alliances of Troy and their delicate nature. His death in his sleep, before he has a chance to fight, highlights how swiftly fate can shift in war.
- The Trojan Host
- The enemy camp showcases the daunting scale of the war and the bravery it takes to enter alone at night. Successfully getting through it is a testament to both boldness and cleverness.
§06Historical context
Historical context
Homer's *Iliad* is the cornerstone of Western literature, crafted in the ancient Greek oral tradition and set against the backdrop of the Trojan War. Book 10, known as the "Doloneia," is sometimes viewed by scholars as a later addition because its tone — reminiscent of a nighttime spy thriller — stands apart from the rest of the epic. The argument included here isn't Homer's original writing; it's a brief summary added in early printed editions to guide readers through the lengthy poem. Rhesus was a Thracian king whose horses, as foretold in a prophecy, would render Troy invincible if they drank from the Scamander River and grazed on Trojan soil — which is why eliminating him on his first night in camp was crucial for the Greeks.
§07FAQ
Questions readers ask
In earlier versions of long poems, an 'argument' is a brief prose summary found at the beginning of each book or canto. It gives you a preview of the events before diving into the complete verse, similar to a chapter title. You can see this technique used in Milton's *Paradise Lost*.
Rhesus, the king of Thrace, has just arrived to join the fight for Troy. A prophecy warned that if his white horses drank from the Scamander river and grazed on Trojan land, the city would be invulnerable. However, Diomedes and Odysseus kill him on his first night in camp, preventing the horses from fulfilling the prophecy and stripping away that divine protection before it can take effect.
The Greek commanders are restless and unable to sleep, fretting over the war's progress. They agree that a nighttime spy mission might help them learn about Trojan strategies. What begins as a reconnaissance effort quickly shifts into a focused killing raid after Dolon discloses the location of Rhesus's camp.
Dolon is a Trojan scout tasked with a solo spy mission. Meanwhile, Diomedes and Odysseus capture him and persuade him to share information by assuring him that his life will be spared, but they end up killing him anyway. This scene stands out as one of the morally grayer moments in the *Iliad*.
Scholars have been debating this for centuries. The book’s night setting, emphasis on trickery rather than battlefield valor, and certain vocabulary choices give it a unique style. Most scholars today agree that it fits within the larger Homeric tradition, even if it might have originated as a standalone episode.
The raid highlights the combination of cunning and bravery—Odysseus provides the strategy while Diomedes handles the fighting. It also delves into the harsh realities of war: killing men in their sleep lacks the honor of a duel. Additionally, it addresses fate, as the goal is to avert a prophecy from being fulfilled.
Book 10 is set during a time when the Greeks are struggling—Achilles has stepped back from the fight, and Troy is pressing them hard. This raid offers a minor tactical victory that lifts the Greeks' spirits, even if it doesn't alter the overall course of the war.
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