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{{Short description|Son of Diores and charioteer of Achilles}}
{{other uses|Automedon (poet)|SS Automedon}}
[[File:Regnault, Henri - Automedon with the Horses of Achilles - 1868 (2).jpg|thumb|right|[[Henri Regnault]]: ''Automedon with the Horses of Achilles'' (1868)]]
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Automedon''' ({{IPAc-en|ɔː|ˈ|t|ɒ|m|ᵻ|d|ə|n}}; [[Ancient Greek]]: Αὐτομέδων), son of [[Diores]],<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' 17.429 & 474</ref> was [[Achilles]]' charioteer, who drove the immortal horses [[Balius and Xanthos]].<ref>''The New Century Classical Handbook''; Catherine Avery, editor; Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1962, p. 205:<br/>"'''Automedon'''...In Homeric legend (''Iliad''), a son of Diores. He was Achilles' charioteer, the driver of the immortal horses Balius and Xanthus."
</ref> He was born on the island of Skyros.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Homeric world SKYROS (Island) STEREA HELLAS - GTP - Greek Travel Pages |url=https://www.gtp.gr/LocInfo.asp?infoid=30&code=EGRHEV40SKY&PrimeCode=EGRHEV40SKY&Level=7&PrimeLevel=7&IncludeWide=0&LocId=5034 |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=www.gtp.gr |language=en}}</ref> 

== Mythology ==
In [[Homer]]'s ''[[Iliad]]'', Automedon rides into battle once [[Patroclus]] dons Achilles's armor, commanding Achilles' horses Balius and Xanthos.  After Patroclus dies, Automedon is driven to the rear of the battle, where he tries to console the bereaved horses.

Zeus finally intervenes, and Automedon resumes driving the chariot,<ref>''The New Century Classical Handbook''; Catherine Avery, editor; Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1962, p. 205: "'''Automedon'''...was Achilles' charioteer, the driver of the immortal horses Balius and Xanthus. After the death of Patroclus, who had borrowed the[m]...the horses...refused to leave the battlefield. Automedon could not persuade them...and finally, after Zeus had assured them that they would never fall into Hectors hands, Automedon drove them back"
</ref> but cannot aid the [[Achaeans (Homer)|Achaeans]] until [[Alcimedon]] agrees to be his driver. He repels an attempt on his life by [[Hector]], [[Aeneas]], [[Chromios]], and [[Aretos]], killing Aretos<ref>''The New Century Classical Handbook''; Catherine Avery, editor; Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1962, p. 144: "'''Aretus'''...was slain by Achilles' charioteer, Automedon"
</ref> 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]].

== Notes ==
<references />
==References==
*Homer. ''[[Iliad]]'', XVI, 145; XVII, 429; XIX; XXIII; XIV.
*[[Homer]], [[Iliad|''The Iliad'']] with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. {{ISBN|978-0674995796|}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0134 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Homer, ''Homeri Opera'' in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920. {{ISBN|978-0198145318|}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0133 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].

==External links==
* {{commonscat-inline}}

{{Characters in the Iliad}}

{{Aeneid}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Automedon}}
[[Category:Achaean Leaders]]
[[Category:Characters in the Aeneid]]

{{Greek-myth-stub}}