Friend or Foe?

Friend or Foe?

There seem to be a lot of one on one battles in the Iliad.  They always seem to have one winner.  This is different for Glaucus and Diomedes.  Before they began to fight they tell each other of their lineages.  This was peculiar behavior you would think in war.  They discover something through this though:

“’We have old ties of hospitality!  My Grandfather Oeneus long ago entertained Bellerophon in his halls for twenty days, and they gave each other gifts of friendship. Oeneus gave a belt bright with scarlet, and Bellerophon a golden cup’” (Iliad 6.221-227). 

They became friends there on the battlefield and exchanged gifts as their grandfathers did before them.  Strange though how Bellerophon and Glaucus both gave more than Oeneus and Diomedes.  They both gave away gold as if they were rich and didn’t value it very much.  Or maybe it is simply because of Zeus: “But Zeus took away Glaucus’ good sense, for he exchanged his golden armor for bronze, the worth of one hundred oxen for nine” (Il. 6.243-245).  I believe that they gave more to make up for the hospitality of Oeneus.  Glaucus gave more to signify his thanks of Diomedes’ grandfather.