DIOMEDES The king of Thrace, Diomedes was reputed to have been the son of Ares, and like his father, and the people he ruled over, was fierce in combat. He was the owner of horses that fed on human flesh, which, by consuming, they became furious and so powerful that they had to be chained with manacles of iron. Hercules was directed to bring these unearthly beasts to Mykenae, as part of his Twelve Labours, and in so doing, fought with and killed Diomedes, feeding the king to his own horses.