Aristia

The aristeia (from Greek  ἄριστος the best) is a term from the art of the epic , exemplary applied in the Iliad of Homer . In terms of content, one of the people treated is shown performing a special warlike heroic deed; Formally, the aristia serves to give central and less central figures a memorable profile, also because each of the heroes of the Iliad stands for a Greek landscape, so none should be disadvantaged. The fact that not only protagonists but also secondary characters have to be served with scenes that profile them well is also an important principle of the dramatic form up to the script .

In the Iliad, the hero Diomedes has his aristia in Canto 5. It is introduced with the words

Now 'Athena adorns Tydeus' son Diomedes

High with strength and determination, so radiant from everything

Danan people he appeared, and gained glorious fame.

(Translation: Johann Heinrich Voss )

literature

• Friedrich Lillge: Composition and poetic technique of Diomēdus Aristeia: a contribution to understanding the Homeric style . Guthe, Bremen 1911 ( digitized version )