Ajax wire of Télamon

Caption

In front of Troy

It is called “ Ajax large the ” because of his high stature, but also to distinguish it from his homonym, known as “Ajax the small one”. Priam, seeing it the top of the ramparts of Troy, thus describes it like a “Achaean, noble and large warrior, who exceeds Argiens of the head and his noble shoulders” ( It. , III, 226-227). It is only exceeded by Achille in force and bravery. It is called “the rampart of the Achaens”. It is wounded in no battle described in Iliade and he is the only main character on the two sides who does not receive any assistance of the gods who take share with the engagements.

According to the post-Homeric tradition, it is invulnerable. Quintus of Smyrna note thus in the Continuation of Homère (I, 564-567):

“The lance (...) does not start the sensitive skin, no matter what it strikes it in full dash. The destiny does not want that an enemy, heavy feature of sob, can be soaked of its blood on the battle field. ”

His/her father is one of the Argonautes. He brings with him twelve vessels to Troy. It is most valiant and most extremely of the Greek heroes, Achille put aside ( II. , II, 768-770). During the combat described in Iliade , it kills ten Troyens, which places it at the fourth rank of the Greeks, behind Achille, Diomède and Agamemnon.

One of the most important duels of the epopee opposes it, with song VII, Hector, the Trojan prince: Hector offers to the Greeks to designate a champion to face it in singular combat. It is Ajax which is drawn with the fate and which will face Priamide. The combat lasts a long time before the two heralds of Zeus do not stop it, whereas the night will fall. Ajax and Hector are then appropriate to declare part equal: thus, all will be able to say, according to Hector, “both fought for the quarrel which devours the hearts and separated after having formed a friendly agreement

Random links: