Dolon (mythology)

Night mission in Homer's Iliad

Dolon, a Trojan warrior in Greek mythology, was the son of Eumedes and had five sisters. Known for his speed, he volunteered for a dangerous mission when Hector summoned all Trojan men. His task was to spy on the Greek ships to determine if and how they were being guarded. As a reward, Hector promised him the horses and bronze chariot of Achilles after the war. Suspicious of being tricked, Dolon made Hector swear an oath to deliver the prize. He then set out disguised in a wolf skin and a cap made of marten fur to blend in, planning to crawl on all fours to deceive the Greeks.

While on a secret raid to plunder the Trojan camp, Odysseus and Diomedes spotted Dolon by chance. They hid among the corpses to avoid detection. With guidance from Athena, Diomedes chased Dolon down. After being tortured, Dolon begged for his life, claiming his wealthy father, Eumedes, could pay a large ransom. Odysseus promised not to kill him if he revealed why he was spying. Dolon confessed everything, including his promised reward. Odysseus then told Dolon he had been deceived by Hector, as only Achilles could control those horses. Dolon further informed the Greeks about the locations and strengths of the Trojan allies in their tents. Despite the promise, Odysseus broke his word, and Diomedes decapitated Dolon. The two Greeks then entered the Trojan camp, killed King Rhesus of Thrace, and stole his valuable horses. Dolon’s son, also named Eumedes after his grandfather, survived the Trojan War. He later fought in Italy under Aeneas and was killed by Turnus.