Book 10—the Doloneia (named after Dolon, the Trojan scout)—is WEIRD. It's a night raid, a spy thriller, almost a separate story inserted into the epic. Some ancient scholars thought it wasn't written by Homer at all. It has a different tone, different vocabulary, and feels more like an adventure story than the rest of the Iliad.
But here's why it matters: after Book 9's philosophical debate about heroism, Book 10 gives us heroism as DIRTY WORK. Odysseus and Diomedes sneak through the night, interrogate a prisoner, then murder sleeping men and steal horses. This isn't glorious aristeia—it's brutal pragmatism. War isn't just battlefield courage; it's also cunning, cruelty, and doing whatever it takes to win.
⚠️ Scholarly Debate
Many scholars argue Book 10 is a later addition to the Iliad. The language is unusual, it can be removed without affecting the plot, and ancient sources debated its authenticity. However, for A-Level, treat it as part of the epic and focus on what it CONTRIBUTES thematically, regardless of authorship debates.
Book 10's Central Contrast
Book 9 showed heroism as honour and glory. Book 10 shows heroism as intelligence, deception, and cold-blooded killing. Both are necessary to win wars. Together, they give us a COMPLETE picture of what being a warrior actually means.
What Makes Book 10 Different
Night setting: Only major night scene in the Iliad—darkness, fear, uncertainty
Espionage not battle: Reconnaissance mission, not open combat
Odysseus is the hero: His cunning dominates, not Achilles's strength
Brutal pragmatism: They murder sleeping men—unheroic but effective
Can be skipped: Removing Book 10 doesn't affect Books 9→11's flow
Different vocabulary: Uses words not found elsewhere in Homer
Focuses on intelligence: The mind matters more than muscles here
Why Study Book 10?
Even if Book 10 wasn't originally part of Homer's Iliad, it's been part of the text for over 2,000 years. For your exam, focus on what it shows us:
Thematic Connections
Different type of heroism: mētis (cunning) vs biē (strength)
War's unglamorous reality: spying, lying, killing the vulnerable
Odysseus's character: the "man of many devices" in action
Diomedes's versatility: equally good at battlefield aristeia and night raids
Greeks taking initiative after Book 9's despair
Book 10 Structure
Book 10 has a SYMMETRICAL structure: Greek leaders can't sleep → Greek mission planned → Greeks and Trojans meet → Greeks succeed, Trojans fail → Greeks return triumphant. It's almost like a self-contained short story.
SCENE 1
Sleepless Leaders
Lines 1-96
Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Nestor can't sleep from worry. They decide to send a reconnaissance mission.
SCENE 2
Diomedes Chooses Odysseus
Lines 97-271
Diomedes volunteers. He chooses Odysseus as his partner. They arm themselves and set out into the night.
SCENE 3
Hector Sends Dolon
Lines 272-339
Parallel Trojan scene: Hector offers rewards for a scout. Dolon volunteers, wearing a wolf-skin.
SCENE 4
Dolon Captured
Lines 340-453
Odysseus and Diomedes trap Dolon. He begs for his life and reveals Trojan positions. They kill him anyway.
SCENE 5
Rhesus Slaughtered
Lines 454-525
Following Dolon's intelligence, they find King Rhesus and his Thracian troops sleeping. Massacre follows.
SCENE 6
Triumphant Return
Lines 526-579
Odysseus and Diomedes escape with Rhesus's horses. They return as heroes, bathe, and sacrifice to Athene.
Parallel Missions
Notice the PARALLEL structure: both sides send scouts, but the Greek mission succeeds (two experienced warriors) whilst the Trojan mission fails (one inexperienced volunteer). Homer shows that in war, competence matters more than courage.
Agamemnon Can't Sleep
Book 10 opens at night. The Greeks are exhausted from Book 9's failed embassy. But their leaders CAN'T SLEEP. Homer contrasts the peaceful sleeping Greeks with their anxious commanders.
The other Greek leaders slept all night beside their ships, overcome by gentle sleep. But the son of Atreus, Agamemnon shepherd of the people, was not visited by sweet sleep. He had too much on his mind.
— Rieu, lines 1-4
"Sweet sleep" versus "too much on his mind"—Agamemnon is paralysed by anxiety. Homer uses a simile to describe his fear:
As when the husband of fair-haired Hera lightens the sky, preparing to send down boundless rain or hail, or cover the fields with snow, or open the great mouth of bitter war somewhere on earth, so thick and fast did the groans come from deep in Agamemnon's heart, and his very inmost parts trembled.
— Rieu, lines 5-10
💡 The Simile Explained
Zeus's lightning precedes storms or war. Agamemnon's groans are like that lightning—signs of approaching disaster. "His very inmost parts trembled" = physical manifestation of psychological terror. This is a leader having a BREAKDOWN.
Agamemnon looks out at the Trojan campfires and hears their music and celebration. The enemy is CONFIDENT whilst he's terrified. He decides to wake Menelaus and consult.
The Council of War
Agamemnon wakes Menelaus, then they gather Nestor, Odysseus, and Diomedes. Notice the pattern: Agamemnon needs OTHERS to solve problems. He's not a decisive leader.
'My friends, is there no man here who would be bold enough to undertake a mission among the proud Trojans? He might capture some enemy straggler, or he might pick up some rumour current in the Trojan camp—what they are planning among themselves, whether they mean to stay out here by the ships or to retire into the city now that they have beaten us. If he could find all this out and come back safe, his fame would reach the sky and the reward would be magnificent.'
— Nestor proposes, Rieu, lines 204-210
What the Mission Requires
Boldness: Willing to go alone into enemy territory at night
Intelligence gathering: Capture stragglers or overhear plans
Survival skills: Get back alive
Rewards offered: Fame and material gifts
This mission needs CUNNING, not strength. It's not a battlefield challenge but an intelligence operation. Who volunteers?
Diomedes Volunteers
'Nestor, my own heart and proud spirit urge me to go down among the enemy at their camp close by. But if someone else would come with me, I should feel much more confidence and courage. When two go together, one sees the advantage before the other. A man on his own may see it too, but his wits work more slowly and his ideas lack weight.'
— Diomedes volunteers, Rieu, lines 220-226
Two Are Better Than One
Diomedes understands TEAMWORK. "Two go together, one sees the advantage before the other" = collaboration makes you smarter. This isn't about strength but about strategic thinking. Diomedes is showing maturity—he wants support, not solo glory.
Multiple warriors volunteer to accompany Diomedes—Menelaus, Ajax, Meriones, Nestor's son. But Diomedes has the right to CHOOSE his partner.
Diomedes Chooses Odysseus
'If I really have my choice and may pick whom I want, how could I forget godlike Odysseus, whose heart is always so keen and whose spirit is so brave in all kinds of dangerous work? Pallas Athene loves him. With him at my side we could come back even from a wall of blazing fire, he is so good at making clever plans.'
— Diomedes chooses Odysseus, Rieu, lines 243-247
Why Odysseus?
"keen heart" = mentally sharp, alert
"brave spirit in dangerous work" = courage in non-battlefield situations
"Athene loves him" = divine protection through intelligence
"good at making clever plans" = THIS is why you choose him
Diomedes could choose Ajax (stronger) or Menelaus (his commander's brother). He chooses ODYSSEUS because this mission needs BRAINS. "We could come back even from a wall of blazing fire" = with Odysseus, survival is possible.
Odysseus responds with characteristic self-deprecation ("don't praise me too much in front of these men who know me well") but accepts. They arm themselves—significantly, they take LIGHT armour and helmets suited for stealth, not heavy battlefield gear.
Arming for Stealth
Homer spends time describing their equipment—but notice it's DIFFERENT from normal battle-arming scenes. No bronze, no flash, nothing that might reflect moonlight or make noise.
Odysseus put on a sword, a shield and a helmet. The helmet, without a crest, was made of leather. Inside, it was lined with many close-set leather straps, and outside the white tusks of a shiny-toothed boar were fixed with expert skill, this way and that, in alternating rows. It had a felt lining.
— Rieu, lines 260-265
This boar's tusk helmet gets EXTENSIVE description—it's an antique even in the Iliad's setting, passed down through generations. Homer is emphasising that this mission connects to older, craftier forms of warfare. The helmet itself has a backstory involving theft and gift-exchange, showing these heroes operate in a world of cunning and trickery.
Athene Sends an Omen
Pallas Athene sent them a heron on their right. They could not see it through the darkness of the night, but they heard it cry. Odysseus was delighted by the bird-sign and prayed to Athene.
— Rieu, lines 274-276
💡 The Heron Omen
Herons are NIGHT hunters—they work in darkness, use stealth, strike precisely. Perfect symbol for this mission. The fact they HEAR but don't SEE it reinforces the night setting. Athene, goddess of wisdom and cunning, is blessing their intelligence operation.
Odysseus prays to Athene, asking for success and promising sacrifice. Then they set out across no-man's-land between the camps.
Parallel Scene: Hector's Council
Homer now cuts to the TROJAN camp. Hector is also planning reconnaissance. Notice the parallels—both sides have the same idea. But the execution will be VERY different.
'My friends, is there no one who would undertake a mission for me in return for a generous reward? His pay will be ample. I will give him a chariot and two high-necked horses, the finest at the Greek ships, to the man who is brave enough to go down to their camp and find out whether they are guarding the ships as usual, or whether, now that we have beaten them, they are planning to escape and are too exhausted to keep proper watch.'
— Hector's proposal, Rieu, lines 303-309
Greek Mission
Two experienced warriors
Diomedes chooses his partner
Both seasoned in war
Athene sends an omen
Careful planning and prayer
Trojan Mission
One volunteer needed
Hector offers massive rewards
Whoever is brave (or foolish) enough
No divine signs mentioned
Focused on material reward
Dolon Volunteers
Dolon is NOT a hero. He's the son of a herald—wealthy but not noble. And he makes a TERRIBLE bargain.
Dolon, son of Eumedes the godlike herald, stood up among them, a man rich in bronze and gold. He was ugly to look at, but a fast runner. He was an only son among five sisters.
— Rieu, lines 314-317
"Ugly to look at" is unusual—Homer rarely describes physical appearance unless it matters. Dolon is being set up as UNHEROIC. "Only son among five sisters" = precious, probably spoiled, shouldn't be risking his life.
'Hector, my heart and proud spirit urge me to go down to the ships and spy. But first, raise your staff and swear to me that you will give me the horses and the bronze-covered chariot that carry the noble son of Peleus. I shall not prove a useless spy for you or disappoint your hopes.'
— Dolon to Hector, Rieu, lines 321-326
Dolon's Fatal Mistakes
He asks for ACHILLES'S horses—the best, but also identifying himself with hubris
He demands a BINDING OATH first—doesn't trust Hector
He's motivated by GREED, not duty or courage
He's going ALONE despite being inexperienced
Hector swears the oath. Dolon arms himself—and here's where it gets weird:
He put his bow over his shoulders, wrapped himself in the skin of a grey wolf, put a cap of marten skin on his head, and taking a sharp spear, set off from the camp towards the ships.
— Rieu, lines 333-336
The Wolf-Skin
Dolon dresses as a WOLF—predator, but also PREY. The wolf-skin is camouflage, but it's also symbolic. He thinks he's the hunter. He's actually walking into a trap.
The Trap
Odysseus and Diomedes see Dolon coming. They lie flat amongst the corpses from the day's battle (GRIM) and let him pass. Then they spring up behind him.
Like two sharp-toothed hounds that are expert at hunting, pursuing a fawn or a hare through the woods relentlessly, and the quarry runs yelping in front of them, so the two men, Odysseus and Diomedes, cut Dolon off from his army and gave him chase.
— Rieu, lines 360-364
The simile is BRUTAL. Dolon is the prey—"yelping" like a terrified animal. Two expert hunters versus one panicked target. Dolon tries to run back to Troy but they're faster.
But when he was a spear's throw from the camp, Diomedes shouted after him: 'Stop, or I'll bring you down with my spear, and then I don't think you'll escape death at my hands for long.'
— Rieu, lines 371-373
Diomedes throws his spear DELIBERATELY over Dolon's head—meant to miss. He wants Dolon alive for interrogation. Dolon stops, terrified.
The Interrogation
Dolon stood there, waiting for them, paralysed with fear. His teeth chattered, and his face went pale.
— Rieu, lines 374-376
Physical symptoms of terror: chattering teeth, pale face. Dolon is NOT a hero. He's an ordinary man way out of his depth.
'Take heart. Put death out of your mind. Come, tell us the truth. Why are you coming here alone through the darkness of night, away from your camp towards the ships, while others sleep? Are you hoping to strip one of the dead? Or did Hector send you to spy on the ships? Or were you acting on your own initiative?'
— Odysseus interrogates, Rieu, lines 383-387
💡 Odysseus's Technique
"Take heart. Put death out of your mind" = classic interrogation tactic. Give false hope to get cooperation. Odysseus isn't being kind—he's being SMART. Make the prisoner think he'll live if he talks.
Dolon SPILLS EVERYTHING. He tells them about Hector's offer, admits he was motivated by greed (wanting Achilles's horses), and then—crucially—reveals the entire Trojan camp layout.
Dolon's Intelligence
He describes where every allied contingent is positioned, and mentions that King Rhesus of Thrace just arrived with magnificent white horses. Rhesus and his men are sleeping at the edge of the camp, unguarded. This is GOLD—Odysseus and Diomedes now have a perfect target.
Dolon's Death
Dolon has told them everything. Now he begs for his life, offering ransom.
'Take heart and spare my life. I will pay you a handsome ransom. My father has bronze and gold and iron that has taken much working. He would give you a vast ransom if he heard I was alive at the Greek ships.'
— Dolon begs, Rieu, lines 378-381
Odysseus pretends to consider it. Then:
Odysseus of the nimble wits replied: 'Take heart, as I said, and put death out of your mind.' But even as he spoke, Dolon reached out to touch Odysseus' chin in supplication. Diomedes struck him with his sword in the middle of the neck, cutting right through both tendons. Dolon's head hit the dust while he was still pleading.
— Rieu, lines 454-458
The Execution
"Take heart… put death out of your mind" = repeated lie whilst Diomedes prepares to strike
"reached out to touch Odysseus' chin" = supplication gesture, should protect him
"struck… in the middle of the neck" = instant, efficient killing
"his head hit the dust while he was still pleading" = he dies mid-sentence
Why Kill Him?
They promised NOTHING. Odysseus's "take heart" was manipulation to keep Dolon calm during interrogation. Once he's given intelligence, he's USELESS—and might warn the Trojans if released. This is cold pragmatism. War has no room for mercy when it compromises the mission.
They strip his wolf-skin and armour, offering them to Athene as they hide the gear in a tamarisk bush to collect later. Then they head for Rhesus's camp.
Finding Rhesus
Following Dolon's intelligence, Odysseus and Diomedes find the Thracian camp. King Rhesus and his men are sleeping, exhausted from their journey. Their weapons are laid out neatly. Their horses—magnificent white horses—are tethered nearby.
They found the Thracian troops in their quarter, all lying there exhausted by fatigue, with their fine armour placed on the ground beside them in three neat rows. By each man stood a pair of horses. Rhesus was sleeping in the middle, and near him his swift horses were tethered by their reins to the top rail of his chariot.
— Rieu, lines 471-476
Notice: "exhausted by fatigue", "sleeping", "armour on the ground". These men are VULNERABLE. They've just arrived. They don't know the Greek camp. They're not expecting an attack.
The Slaughter
What happens next is BRUTAL. This isn't battle. This is butchery.
Odysseus, pointing him out to Diomedes, said: 'There is your man, Diomedes, and there are the horses Dolon told us about. Come on, use your strength. There's no point in standing here with idle weapons. You deal with the horses—or rather, you kill the men and I'll see to the horses.'
— Rieu, lines 477-481
Odysseus gives clear tactical instruction: divide the labour, act fast. They're not here for glory—they're here to inflict maximum damage before anyone wakes up.
Bright-eyed Athene breathed fury into Diomedes. He killed men right and left. Hideous groans came from the Thracians as they were struck by the sword, and the ground ran red with blood. As a lion comes on a flock of sheep or goats without a shepherd and falls on them with deadly intent, so the son of Tydeus attacked the Thracians till he had killed twelve men.
— Rieu, lines 482-488
Homer's Description
"breathed fury into Diomedes" = divine-inspired killing frenzy
"killed men right and left" = systematic murder
"Hideous groans" = they're waking up AS they die
"ground ran red with blood" = mass slaughter
"As a lion… without a shepherd" = defenceless victims
The lion simile is KEY. These aren't warriors in combat—they're SHEEP being slaughtered. No honour, no fair fight, just efficient killing. And it continues:
Behind him, Odysseus of the nimble wits took each man that Diomedes struck down and dragged him out of the way by the feet, with the idea that the beautiful-maned horses might pass through easily and not shy at stepping over dead bodies, being still unused to them.
— Rieu, lines 489-493
💡 Odysseus's Pragmatism
Whilst Diomedes kills, Odysseus is THINKING: clear the path so the horses won't spook. This shows his intelligence—even during slaughter, he's planning the ESCAPE. This is mētis (cunning intelligence) in action.
Rhesus Dies
When the son of Tydeus came to the king—he was the thirteenth—he robbed him of his sweet life as he lay there breathing hard. An evil dream had stood by his head that night—the grandson of Oeneus, conjured up by Athene.
— Rieu, lines 494-497
Rhesus's death is almost sad. He's having a nightmare (sent by Athene) as he dies. "Robbed him of his sweet life" is gentle language for what's actually happening—Diomedes is murdering a sleeping king.
Thirteen men dead. Odysseus unties the horses. They're about to leave when Athene warns them—someone's alerted the camp. Time to run.
Near Discovery
But one of Rhesus' companions, Hippocoon, woke up. When he saw the place empty where the swift horses had stood, and men gasping in the throes of death, he groaned aloud and called out his dear friend Rhesus by name. A confused outcry arose from the Trojans as they ran up together.
— Rieu, lines 521-525
The Trojans wake to chaos: horses gone, king dead, blood everywhere. But Odysseus and Diomedes are GONE—riding Rhesus's white horses back to the Greek camp.
The Triumphant Return
Odysseus and Diomedes ride back on Rhesus's white horses—the most beautiful horses in the Trojan camp, now Greek prizes. They stop to collect Dolon's armour (remember, they hid it earlier), then return to their waiting comrades.
Their friends welcomed them gladly and congratulated them. Nestor the Gerenian charioteer was the first to question them: 'Come, Odysseus, great glory of the Greeks, tell me, how did you capture these horses? Did you go down into the Trojan camp, or did some god meet you and give them to you?'
— Rieu, lines 532-537
Nestor's question is interesting: "or did some god give them to you?" The horses are SO magnificent, it seems like divine intervention. But actually, it was cunning, intelligence, and ruthless execution.
Odysseus's Report
'Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Greeks, if a god had wished to give us horses, he could easily have given us even better ones. But these horses we captured are Thracian. Diomedes killed their master as he slept, and twelve of his companions. And on the way we caught a spy, a thirteenth man, whom Hector and the other proud Trojans had sent out to reconnoitre our camp.'
— Odysseus reports, Rieu, lines 542-548
Notice Odysseus's framing: "killed their master as he slept" = matter-of-fact, no shame. "We caught a spy" = Dolon reduced to a detail. Odysseus presents this as a successful military operation, which it WAS.
Purification and Sacrifice
The book ends with Odysseus and Diomedes BATHING and making sacrifice. This is ritually significant—they're cleansing themselves from bloodshed and thanking Athene.
They went into the sea and washed off the plentiful sweat from shins and necks and thighs. When the sea surf had washed the plentiful sweat from their skin and they felt refreshed, they stepped into polished baths. When they had bathed and rubbed themselves with olive oil, they sat down at table and drawing wine from a full mixing-bowl, they poured a libation to Athene.
— Rieu, lines 572-579
Ritual Cleansing
The sea wash removes "plentiful sweat"—but symbolically, it's also removing the POLLUTION of killing sleeping men. They then oil themselves (civilised practice), bathe properly, and make libations. They're transitioning from the darkness of night-murder back to the daylight world of heroic society.
What Book 10 Shows Us
About Warfare
Intelligence gathering is crucial
Cunning beats strength at night
Mercy is a luxury you can't afford
Killing sleeping enemies is valid
Two experts beat one amateur
About Heroes
Odysseus excels at mētis (cunning)
Diomedes is versatile (battle + stealth)
Divine favour helps intelligence
Ritual matters even after dirty work
Success requires teamwork
Connections to Other Books
Book 5: Diomedes's aristeia showed battlefield prowess; Book 10 shows his night-raid skills
Book 9: Odysseus's failed diplomacy; Book 10 shows where his real talents lie
Later books: The horses become a minor plot point, but the intelligence gathered matters
Key Points for Revision
Book 10 is structurally separate: Can be removed without affecting the plot—possibly a later addition
Different type of heroism: Mētis (cunning/intelligence) rather than biē (strength/courage)
Night setting unique: Darkness, fear, uncertainty—different atmosphere from daylight battles
Odysseus is the star: His intelligence and planning drive the mission's success
Dolon as anti-hero: Motivated by greed, goes alone, dies begging—contrast to proper heroes
Parallel missions: Both sides send scouts, but Greek teamwork beats Trojan individualism
No moral judgement: Homer doesn't condemn the night raid—presents it as militarily necessary
Ritual purification: Bathing and sacrifice restore them to civilised society after bloodshed
Important Quotations
"When two go together, one sees the advantage before the other. A man on his own may see it too, but his wits work more slowly and his ideas lack weight."
— Diomedes on teamwork (Book 10)
"How could I forget godlike Odysseus, whose heart is always so keen and whose spirit is so brave in all kinds of dangerous work? Pallas Athene loves him."
— Diomedes choosing Odysseus (Book 10)
"Take heart. Put death out of your mind."
— Odysseus to Dolon (repeated lie during interrogation, Book 10)
"As a lion comes on a flock of sheep or goats without a shepherd and falls on them with deadly intent, so the son of Tydeus attacked the Thracians."
— Simile for the slaughter of Rhesus's men (Book 10)
Scholarly Debates About Book 10
⚠️ The Authenticity Question
Ancient scholars (Alexandrian critics) questioned whether Book 10 was written by Homer. Modern scholars note unusual vocabulary, the fact it can be removed without plot disruption, and its different tone. However, it's been part of the text for over 2,000 years and appears in all manuscripts.
Arguments For Separate Origin
Unique vocabulary not found elsewhere
Can be removed without affecting Books 9→11
Different tone (spy thriller vs epic)
No consequences in later books
Self-contained narrative
Arguments For Homeric Authorship
Appears in ALL ancient manuscripts
Fits thematically (cunning vs strength)
Complements Book 9's debate
Typical Homeric ring composition
Character portrayals consistent
💡 For A-Level Purposes
You can mention the scholarly debate briefly in essays, but focus on what Book 10 CONTRIBUTES to the Iliad thematically. Whether Homer wrote it or not, it's been part of the text for millennia and offers crucial insights into Greek warfare, heroic values, and Odysseus's character.
Essay Ideas from Book 10
Themes to Explore
Mētis (cunning) vs biē (strength) in heroism
War's unglamorous reality
Teamwork and partnership
Intelligence gathering in warfare
Moral ambiguity (is killing sleeping men honourable?)
Divine favour and human action
Character Comparisons
Odysseus vs Dolon (experienced vs naive)
Diomedes's versatility (Books 5 vs 10)
Greek teamwork vs Trojan individualism
Athene's role in cunning operations
Leadership: Agamemnon's anxiety vs Nestor's wisdom
Comparing Books 9 and 10
Two Sides of Heroism
Books 9 and 10 work together to give us a COMPLETE picture of what heroism means in the Iliad:
Book 9: Heroism as honour, glory, public recognition, and philosophical integrity. Achilles questions whether kleos is worth dying for. The heroic code is interrogated and found wanting.
Book 10: Heroism as practical intelligence, ruthless efficiency, and doing whatever it takes to win. Odysseus and Diomedes don't question the code—they just GET THINGS DONE.
Together, they show that war requires BOTH the philosophical hero (Achilles) and the pragmatic warrior (Odysseus). Both mindsets are necessary. Neither is sufficient alone.