Ajax, Greater

A Salamian hero. Ajax (Aias or Αἴας) was the son of Telamon and Periboea or Eëriboea (Eeriboea), daughter of Alcathoüs (Alcathous). As the grandson of Alcathoüs, Ajax became king of Megara. He was also known as Telamonian Ajax or the Greater Ajax, to distinguish him from another Ajax who fought in the same war at Troy.

At his birth, he was named after Zeus' eagle (aietos), when Heracles prayed for a brave son of Telamon.

As suitor of Helen, he came to Troy with 12 ships from Salamis. Next to his cousin Achilles, Ajax was the most handsome and the bravest of the Greeks at Troy. At Troy, he had a son named Eurysaces by his concubine Tecmassa, daughter of Teleutas. According to one writer, Ajax also had another son named Philaeus.

Ajax of Salamis should not to be confused with the Locrian leader known as the Lesser Ajax, son of Oïleus (Oileus). Ajax was a head taller than the other Greek leaders, while the Lesser Ajax was shorter in stature than most Greeks. Yet the two Ajaxes fought side by side on numerous occasions. Ajax also fought side-by-side with his half-brother Teucer (Τεὓκρος), son of Telamon and the Trojan concubine Hesione. Teucer was the best archer in the Greek army, and he often shot arrows behind the safety of his half-brother's large shield.

When Hector challenged the Greeks to single combat, drawing the lots, Ajax was chosen to fight the Trojan commander. Ajax fought against Hector in single combat to a draw, and afterward they exchanged gifts: Hector gave Ajax his sword in return for Hector receiving Ajax's belt. The two Ajaxes were the strongest defenders of the Greek ships. He also defended Patroclus' corpse against the Trojans.

There one interesting note about the large shield of Ajax. Homer (9th-8th century BC) described in detail that the shield had the shape of a figure-of-eight (8). The shield was made of seven layers of bull hide and plated with bronze. During the Bronze Age Mycenaean civilization, there were a couple of men carrying figure-of-eight shields depicted on a Mycenaean dagger. It suggested that there was a link between Homer and the Mycenaeans, passed through oral tradition.

When Achilles was killed, Ajax carried his corpse back to the camp while Odysseus held off the Trojans. Using a sword he received from Hector as a gift, he committed suicide after losing the contest for the armour of Achilles against Odysseus.

Later when Odysseus went to the Underworld, Ajax was still angry at losing the armour to Odysseus. The Athenians worshipped him as a great hero.