#at this point you can find any two Achaeans in the army being besties with each other

[lyculuscaelus]

Idomeneus and Meriones

Just gonna drop this here (the Iliad, book 13, line 249):

Μηριόνη Μόλου υἱὲ πόδας ταχὺ φίλταθ᾽ ἑταίρων Meriones son of Molus, swift-footed one, my dearest companion

See the word φίλτατος (superlative of φίλος) here? It’s how they address their besties, “nearest, dearest”. Just like how Patroclus was said to be the dearest to Achilles (book 17, line 410–411):

δὴ τότε γ᾽ οὔ οἱ ἔειπε κακὸν τόσον ὅσσον ἐτύχθη μήτηρ, ὅττί ῥά οἱ πολὺ φίλτατος ὤλεθ᾽ ἑταῖρος. Then his mother (Thetis) did not tell him how great an evil transpired, That indeed his much dearest comrade (Patroclus) was slain.

We can rant abt Patroclus and Achilles all day but right here I just want to talk a bit abt the friendship of Idomeneus and Meriones. First of all this line here is literally Idomeneus calling Meriones bestie. It certainly makes sense for Idomeneus to call his therapon like this. And see how understanding they were with each other:

Meriones to Idomeneus (book 13, line 272–273):

ἄλλόν πού τινα μᾶλλον Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων λήθω μαρνάμενος, σὲ δὲ ἴδμεναι αὐτὸν ὀΐω. Some other of the bronze-chitoned Achaeans Might not notice my fighting, yet I believe you know it well.

And then Idomeneus’s reply (the following part, in line 275):

οἶδ᾽ ἀρετὴν οἷός ἐσσι: τί σε χρὴ ταῦτα λέγεσθαι; I know what sort of excellent man you are; what need is there for you to tell me this?

Literally. They’re besties your honor, and probably had gone through more than this war to know each other so well. Just look at themmm