In Greek mythology, “Ajax” refers to two distinct heroes who fought at Troy: Ajax the Greater (Telamonian Ajax), a towering warrior of immense strength, and Ajax the Lesser (Locrian Ajax), a swift and arrogant fighter. The Greater Ajax is the far more famous of the two, known for his size, courage, and tragic end, while the Lesser Ajax is remembered for his impiety and the divine punishment that followed.
The Two Ajaxes: A Confusing Duplicate
The existence of two heroes with the same name in the same war is a quirk of Greek myth that often confuses readers. To distinguish them, the Greeks used epithets: Ajax, son of Telamon, king of Salamis, was called Telamonios or Megas (the Greater). Ajax, son of Oileus, king of Locris, was called Oiliades or Lokros (the Lesser). Both appear in Homer’s Iliad, where they often fight side by side. Homer himself sometimes calls them “the two Ajaxes,” treating them as a pair, but their personalities and fates could not be more different.
Ajax the Greater: The Bulwark of the Greeks
Ajax the Greater was the son of Telamon, king of Salamis, and Periboea (or Eriboea, in some versions). Telamon was a friend of Heracles, who had prayed that Telamon’s son would be as strong as a lion’s hide—hence the name Ajax, which some ancients derived from aietos (eagle) or aiai (a cry of woe). Ajax was the cousin of Achilles (their fathers were brothers), and he was second only to Achilles in martial prowess. In the Iliad, Ajax is described as a “wall” for the Greeks, a massive warrior who wields a huge shield of seven ox-hides and a spear like a ship’s mast. His greatest feat is defending the Greek ships against the Trojan assault led by Hector. In the famous duel with Hector (Book 7), the two fight to a stalemate until nightfall, after which they exchange gifts—Ajax gives Hector a purple belt, and Hector gives Ajax a sword. This exchange later proves fateful.
The Judgment of the Arms of Achilles
After Achilles is killed by Paris (with Apollo’s help), his divine armor—forged by Hephaestus—is offered to the bravest Greek warrior. Ajax and Odysseus (Ulysses) are the final contenders. In the Odyssey (Book 11), Homer briefly mentions that Ajax lost the contest and, in his madness, killed himself. But the fullest account comes from later sources, especially Sophocles’ tragedy Ajax. According to that play, the Greek leaders, swayed by Odysseus’s eloquence (and Athena’s favor), awarded the armor to Odysseus. Ajax, enraged and humiliated, planned to murder the Greek commanders. Athena, however, struck him with madness, and he slaughtered a herd of sheep and cattle, believing them to be the Greeks. When he regained his senses and realized what he had done, he was overcome with shame. He fell on the sword that Hector had given him—the very gift from their duel—and died. His body, according to Sophocles, was denied burial by the Greek leaders, but Odysseus argued for a proper funeral, and Ajax was finally buried.
Ajax the Lesser: The Impiety of Locris
Ajax the Lesser, son of Oileus, was a smaller man but a skilled spearman and runner. He was also a leader of the Locrian contingent, which contributed forty ships to the Greek fleet. In the Iliad, he is often paired with the Greater Ajax, and the two are described as fighting back-to-back. However, the Lesser Ajax is most famous for a crime committed after the fall of Troy. When the Greeks sacked the city, Ajax found Cassandra, the prophetess, clinging to the statue of Athena in her temple. He dragged her away and raped her, an act of sacrilege that enraged Athena. According to the epic cycle (the Little Iliad and the Nostoi), Athena punished the Greeks for this impiety by causing a storm on their return voyage. Ajax’s ship was wrecked, but he managed to cling to a rock and boast that he would survive despite the gods. Poseidon then split the rock with his trident, and Ajax drowned. In some versions, he is buried on the island of Delos, but his crime left a lasting stain: the Locrians were said to have sent two noble maidens to Troy every year for a thousand years to serve in Athena’s temple as atonement, a practice mentioned by later writers like Strabo.
Ajax’s Death and the Question of Honor
The death of Ajax the Greater raises a central theme in Greek mythology: the conflict between personal honor (timê) and the will of the gods. Ajax’s suicide is not just a result of madness but of his inability to live with dishonor. In Sophocles’ play, Ajax’s famous speech before his death (the “deception speech”) has been debated for centuries: he seems to accept change and the passage of time, yet he still chooses death. The sword of Hector, a gift from an enemy, becomes the instrument of his end, symbolizing how the hero’s own code leads to his destruction. Unlike Odysseus, who embodies cunning and adaptability, Ajax represents the old heroic ideal of physical prowess and unyielding pride—a code that cannot survive in a world where the gods favor the clever over the strong.
Ajax in Later Art and Literature
Ajax the Greater appears in later Greek and Roman texts, often as a symbol of tragic strength. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses (Book 13), Ajax and Odysseus deliver competing speeches for the armor, and Ajax’s speech is blunt and honest, while Odysseus’s is manipulative and clever. The Roman poet Ennius wrote a tragedy Ajax (now lost), and the story was a popular subject for vase painters, who depicted Ajax carrying the body of Achilles from the battlefield or his suicide. In Dante’s Inferno, Ajax is placed in the second circle of Hell among the suicides, though Dante likely conflates him with other figures. In modern times, the name “Ajax” has become a byword for a powerful but flawed hero, and the Dutch football club AFC Ajax is named after him, reflecting his association with strength and courage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there two Ajaxes in Greek mythology?
The duplication likely arose from the oral tradition, where different regions had their own local heroes. The Greeks themselves acknowledged the confusion and used epithets to tell them apart. The Greater Ajax was from Salamis, near Athens, and was a major figure in the Iliad; the Lesser Ajax was from Locris, a smaller region, and his role was more minor. The two are often mentioned together in Homer, which may have helped preserve both names in the epic cycle.
Did Ajax the Greater really kill himself over a set of armor?
Yes, according to the most common version of the myth, Ajax killed himself after losing the contest for Achilles’ armor to Odysseus. However, the earliest reference in Homer’s Odyssey only says that Ajax died after losing the arms, without specifying suicide. The full story of the madness and suicide comes from the epic cycle and later tragedies, especially Sophocles’ Ajax (5th century BCE). Some ancient sources, like the scholar Apollodorus, also mention that Ajax was invulnerable except for one spot, but that detail is not in Homer.
What happened to Ajax the Lesser after the Trojan War?
Ajax the Lesser died on his way home from Troy. After raping Cassandra in Athena’s temple, he was cursed by the goddess. His ship was wrecked in a storm, and though he clung to a rock and boasted of his survival, Poseidon (or Athena, in some versions) destroyed the rock, and he drowned. His crime also brought divine wrath upon the entire Greek fleet, causing many ships to be lost. Later tradition held that the Locrians had to send two maidens to Troy for a thousand years to appease Athena, a practice that some ancient historians claimed continued until the 4th century BCE.
Was Ajax the Greater related to Achilles?
Yes, Ajax the Greater and Achilles were cousins. Their fathers, Telamon and Peleus, were brothers, both sons of Aeacus, the king of Aegina. This made Ajax a member of the same royal family as Achilles, which explains why Ajax felt entitled to Achilles’ armor after his death. In the Iliad, Ajax is often described as the second-best Greek warrior, after Achilles, and he is the one who carries Achilles’ body off the battlefield when he is killed.
What is the difference between Ajax the Greater and Ajax the Lesser?
The main differences are their size, strength, and moral character. Ajax the Greater was huge, strong, and honorable, though proud; he was the second-best Greek warrior and a model of heroic courage. Ajax the Lesser was smaller, faster, and more arrogant and impious, as shown by his crime against Cassandra. Their deaths reflect their natures: the Greater Ajax dies by his own hand out of shame, while the Lesser Ajax dies by divine punishment for his sacrilege.
Is the modern football club Ajax named after the Greek hero?
Yes, the Dutch football club AFC Ajax, founded in 1900 in Amsterdam, is named after Ajax the Greater. The club’s name was chosen to reflect the hero’s strength and courage, and the club’s logo has featured the head of Ajax on some versions. The club is known for its attacking style and youth academy, but the name is a direct reference to the mythological warrior.
Related
- Blade in Mythology: Swords, Knives & Sacred Edges
- Goat in Mythology: Roles, Gods, and Symbolism
- Polyphemus in Mythology: The Cyclops
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