Ritorno e migrazione. Il viaggio di Diomede da Troia all’Adriatico

Abstract

This article presents a critical overview of the various mythological traditions surrounding the return journey of the hero Diomedes—from Troy to Argos, through his eventual settlement in Daunia, and culminating in his death and burial on the Tremiti Islands. The myth of Diomedes, complex and multilayered, binds together the disparate locations of his cult and has often been examined as a valuable source for reconstructing the maritime routes of Greek migration to the Western Mediterranean. Rather than privileging a purely historical or archaeological approach, the present study places primary emphasis on the literary dimension of the ancient sources that recount the different stages of Diomedes’ post-war odyssey. Through a close reading of these texts, the article proposes a coherent narrative framework that brings unity to the fragmented tradition. Such a framework, it is argued, may offer significant pedagogical potential, particularly in facilitating comparisons between Diomedes and other prominent figures of ancient epic—most notably Odysseus and Aeneas. The parallel trajectories, trials, and cultural resonances of these heroes open up fertile ground for classroom engagement and interdisciplinary inquiry.