The person01–03
01·Who they are
Who is Ajax?
Ajax, son of Telamon, is introduced in the Catalogue of Ships (Book II) as the commander of twelve ships from Salamis, positioned alongside the Athenians. The narrator quickly establishes his dominance over the other warriors: "Ajax, son of Telamon, was much the foremost so long as Achilles' anger lasted." Helen’s reference to him as "huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans" in Book III confirms his stature in the eyes of both sides. He is physically imposing; Priam notes that his "head and broad shoulders tower above the rest of the Argives." Ajax fights with brute strength: he hurls massive stones that only a few can lift, and his large shield becomes a tactical asset for Teucer to take cover behind.
02·Arc & motivation
What is Ajax's arc and motivation?
Ajax doesn’t harbor a personal vendetta or ambition beyond holding the line. His motivation is purely martial: he fights because it’s in his nature. Unlike Achilles, he feels no anger; unlike Odysseus, he doesn’t scheme. The text shows him responding to necessity—rushing to assist Menestheus against the Lycians in Book XII, standing firm against Hector in Book XIII, and being the first to injure an enemy when Neptune shifts the tide in Book XIV. His journey is about consistent, unwavering presence rather than transformation.
03·Key moments
What are Ajax's key moments?
- Book II: Named the leading Achaean in Achilles' absence; commands twelve ships from Salamis.
- Book III: Recognized by Helen to Priam as "huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans."
- Book IV: Kills Simoeisius with a spear-thrust to the chest, the strike compared to a poplar felled by a wheelwright.
- Book V: Slays Amphius but is forced back by a barrage of Trojan spears before he can strip the armor.
- Book VI: Breaks through a Trojan phalanx and kills Acamas the Thracian with a spear to the forehead.
- Book VIII: Teucer takes cover behind his shield to shoot, then rushes back to Ajax like a child to its mother.
- Book IX: Acts as an envoy to Achilles; gives a silent signal to Phoenix to start speaking.
- Book XII: Rushes to help Menestheus, kills Epicles with a boulder, and drives Sarpedon from the battlements with a spear-thrust.
- Book XIII: Neptune fills him and the other Ajax with battle-fury; he expresses a desire to confront Hector in single combat.
- Book XIV: Strikes Hector above the shield-rim with a stone, knocking him to the ground, stunned and bleeding—this is the most decisive blow any Achaean delivers to Hector in the poem.
- Book XV: Hector himself tells Apollo that Ajax struck him with a stone and nearly killed him.
- Book XVIII: Achilles, in need of armor, says the only shield he can borrow is Ajax's, indicating that Ajax must be fighting at the front over Patroclus's body.
The cast04–05
04·Relationships
What are Ajax's most important relationships?
Ajax's rivalry with Hector serves as the primary martial conflict while Achilles is away. Their confrontation in Book XIV represents the climax: Ajax's throw is the closest any Achaean comes to killing Hector outright. With Achilles, Ajax shares the honor of anchoring the two ends of the Achaean line, and Achilles' warm greeting of the embassy—"dearest to me of the Achaeans"—implies a genuine mutual respect. With Teucer (his half-brother by the same father, as noted in the text), Ajax acts as a living shield, emphasizing his role as the protector of the entire army. His partnership with Odysseus in the mission to Achilles is complementary: Odysseus speaks, while Ajax signals.
05·Connected characters
How is Ajax connected to the other characters?
Study06–07
06·Questions
Questions readers ask about Ajax
Why is Ajax called the foremost Achaean warrior if Achilles is in the poem?
The narrator points out in Book II that Ajax "was much the foremost so long as Achilles' anger lasted," clearly stating that his superiority depends on Achilles not participating in the battle. When Achilles is gone, Ajax stands as the army's top warrior.
What is Ajax's most important single action in the battle?
In Book XIV, Ajax hits Hector above the edge of his shield with a stone, causing him to "spin round like a top" and collapse to the ground, dazed and coughing up blood. Later, Hector tells Apollo that this strike almost took him to Hades.
How does Ajax fight alongside Teucer?
Teucer crouches behind Ajax's shield, peeking out to take shots before retreating to Ajax like a child seeking comfort from its mother. Ajax holds the shield to guard him while Teucer takes aim at the Trojans with his bow.
What role does Ajax play in the embassy to Achilles in Book IX?
Ajax travels with Odysseus and Phoenix as one of the envoys. During dinner, he discreetly gestures to Phoenix, which prompts Odysseus to begin the appeal.
How does Priam first learn who Ajax is?
In Book III, Priam notices a tall figure among the Argives and asks Helen who he is. She tells him it's the mighty Ajax, the stronghold of the Achaeans.
What does Achilles say about Ajax's shield after Patroclus dies?
In Book XVIII, Achilles expresses his need for armor but realizes he can't go into battle without it. He thinks about borrowing Ajax's shield, but he acknowledges that Ajax is likely already at the front, fighting over Patroclus's body, making the shield unavailable.
How does Ajax respond when the wall is threatened by the Lycians in Book XII?
He quickly departs from his section of the wall, brings Teucer along, heads to Menestheus's tower, and kills the Lycian Epicles by throwing a massive boulder that crushes his helmet — a stone so heavy that, as the narrator points out, even a young man today would struggle to lift it with both hands.
07·Essay angles
Use this in your essay
Tool · Essay angles
Ajax as the poem's definition of pure martial virtue
The shield as symbol
Ajax and Hector as structural counterparts
Silence and authority
Filling Achilles' absence