Editing Diomede

{{wikipediainfo}}
{{first pic|Steven in Day of Armageddon.png|[[Steven Taylor]], seen here still sporting injuries he sustained in [[Troy]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|namedep=Day of Armageddon (2)}}) adopted the identity of Diomede. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (TV story)}})}}
'''Diomede''' was a [[friend]] of [[Odysseus]] who fought in the [[Trojan War]] on the side of the [[Greek]]s. He died from his [[wound]]s a [[week]] prior to the arrival of the [[First Doctor]], [[Vicki Pallister]] and [[Steven Taylor]] in the era. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}})

As '''Steven Diomede''', ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}}) Diomede's identity was later adopted by Steven when he needed a [[uniform]] and [[armour]] with which to face [[Paris (The Myth Makers)|Paris]], hoping to become a [[prisoner of war]] with the eventual aim of rescuing Vicki. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}})

Diomede went on to feature as character in [[William Shakespeare]]'s [[play]] ''[[Troilus and Cressida]]'' which was set during the Trojan War. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Apocrypha Bipedium (short story)}})

== The original Diomede ==
Diomede was a [[friend]] of [[Odysseus]]. He fought for the [[Greek]]s in the [[Trojan War]] and was known by the [[Trojan]]s for his prowess. Introducing his [[prisoner]] "Diomede" to his [[father]] [[Priam]], [[Paris (The Myth Makers)|Paris]] noted that he would be able to see he was "quite a catch" if he consulted the Greek [[army]] lists, ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}}) also calling Diomede a "redoubtable and hitherto undefeated, deservedly popular [[hero]]". [[Homer]] stated that the real Diomede had been "quite a fellow", not in "the very first rank of heroes, like [[Ajax]] and [[Achilles]]; but still a likely contender for second place in the [[hierarchy]]".

While thinking up a reason for how she knew and recognised "Diomede", who was really [[Steven Taylor|Steven]], [[Vicki Pallister|Vicki]] claimed that he had won the [[Pentathlon]] the previous [[year]] at the [[Olympic Games]]. Steven then built upon this by saying that afterwards they had all gone to [[Diana's Grove]] and Vicki had [[Fortune teller|told everybody's fortune]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}})

The real Diomede died from his [[wound]]s a [[week]] prior to the arrival of the [[First Doctor]], Vicki and Steven in the era, ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}}) at which time the [[Trojan]]s were unaware of his [[death]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}}) This allowed Steven, who was about his size, to later use Diomede's [[uniform]] and [[armour]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}})

== As an alias ==
[[Steven Taylor|Steven]] adopted the identity of Diomede to avoid the [[Trojan]]s mistaking him for a [[spy]] and summarily [[Death sentence|executing]] him. He confronted [[Paris (The Myth Makers)|Paris]] on the plain outside Troy and provoked him into engaging him in a brief [[sword]]fight despite Paris's initial attempts to tell Steven-as-Diomede that it was the [[blood]] of [[Achilles]] he sought not Diomede's. Steven eventually pretended to trip and yielded. Paris was confused at first, commenting that he would surely prefer to die than be taken [[prisoner]], but Steven managed to convince him to capture him by claiming his [[friend]]s had advised him against the fight, saying they would rather face [[Hector]] and [[Troilus]] together than Paris, the [[lion]] of Troy. Paris stated he did not have such a reputation in Troy itself, with Steven promising to tell [[tale]]s of his [[valour]] which would make "even [[King]] [[Priam]] blanch to hear".

Steven and Vicki addressed each other with familiarity when he arrived in Priam's [[palace]] which [[Cassandra (The Myth Makers)|Cassandra]] took as proof that Vicki, who had adopted the name [[Cressida]], was a Greek spy resulting in both of their incarcerations. Although Vicki was soon released, ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}}) the Trojans intended to keep "Diomede" in the cells until he rotted. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (TV story)}}) Vicki later freed Steven herself while the [[Trojan Horse]] was being brought into the city.

Vicki and [[Troilus]] had fallen in [[love]] over the course of her stay in Troy but Troilus struggled with her obvious closeness to Steven, suspecting their [[friendship]] was something more. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (novelisation)}}) After Vicki asked Troilus to go and search for Diomede on the plains outside the city following his escape, Troilus apparently convinced himself of this, telling [[Hector|his brother]]'s [[murderer]] [[Achilles]] "I only live to kill Diomede". Vicki searched for Troilus on the plains as Troy burned and explained to him that Diomede had gone with [[First Doctor|another friend]] he had not met. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Myth Makers (TV story)}})

== As a character ==
Diomede featured in [[William Shakespeare]]'s [[play]] ''[[Troilus and Cressida]]''. Although [[the Doctor]] assumed the successful romance between [[Troilus]] and [[Cressida]] was predestined based on his limited knowledge of the play, he had never actually read it. When the [[Eighth Doctor]] revealed this fact, [[Charlotte Pollard]] explained that Cressida did not end up with Troilus in it but with Diomede. This caused Vicki to recall that Diomede had been [[Steven Taylor|Steven]], though she confirmed to a confused Doctor and a petulant Troilus that in real life they had just been [[friend]]s. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Apocrypha Bipedium (short story)}})
{{Shakespeare}}

[[Category:12th century BC individuals]]
[[Category:Human soldiers]]
[[Category:Aliases]]
[[Category:Troilus and Cressida characters]]