InHomer'sIliad, Automedon rides into battle oncePatroclus 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,[4] but cannot aid theAchaeans untilAlcimedon agrees to be his driver. He repels an attempt on his life byHector,Aeneas,Chromios, andAretos, killing Aretos[5] and taking his armor in the process. He also appears in theAeneid at line 477 of Book II, when the Greek forces break into the palace ofPriam.
^The New Century Classical Handbook; Catherine Avery, editor; Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1962, p. 205: "Automedon...In Homeric legend (Iliad), a son of Diores. He was Achilles' charioteer, the driver of the immortal horses Balius and Xanthus."
^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"
^The New Century Classical Handbook; Catherine Avery, editor; Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1962, p. 144: "Aretus...was slain by Achilles' charioteer, Automedon"
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