Ajax and Ajax in the Trojan War 🐴 | Greeking Out Podcast | NEW | S12 E9 | ‪@natgeokids

Key Concepts

• Ajax the Greater and Ajax the Lesser: Two prominent Greek warriors in the Trojan War, both named Ajax, distinguished by their size and characteristics.
• Achilles' Armor: The coveted armor of the legendary Greek hero Achilles, central to a dispute over its ownership.
• Bravery Contest: A competition to determine the bravest Greek warrior to receive Achilles' armor.
• Hubris: Excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to downfall in Greek mythology.
• Divine Intervention: The involvement of gods in mortal affairs, influencing outcomes.
• War Crimes: Violations of the laws and customs of war.
• Temple Desecration: The act of disrespecting or violating a sacred religious site.
• Pugnacious: Having a quarrelsome or combative nature.

The Two Ajaxes: A Tale of Pride, Shame, and Divine Wrath

This episode of "Greeking Out" delves into the stories of two formidable Greek warriors during the Trojan War, both named Ajax, and their tragic fates. The narrative highlights themes of pride, divine retribution, and the consequences of disrespecting the gods.

Ajax the Greater and the Armor of Achilles

The story begins by introducing two warriors named Ajax, fighting for the Greeks in the Trojan War. They are distinguished as Ajax the Greater, a towering warrior, and Ajax the Lesser, who was much smaller. Both were respected fighters, though the narrator notes the rudeness of judging by physical size. In Greek, their names would have been pronounced differently, and as a fighting pair, they were known as the Aantes.

The first major plot point revolves around the armor of Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior, who was killed by an arrow guided by Aphrodite to his heel. The narrator clarifies that in earlier versions of the myth, Achilles did not have a weak heel, which makes more sense given the focus on his armor. Achilles' original armor was worn by Patroclus, stolen by Hector, and then recovered by Achilles' mother, Thetis, who commissioned a new, superior set from Hephaestus.

After Achilles' death, Thetis did not want to keep the armor as a reminder of her loss. She requested it be given to the bravest Greek warrior in his honor. The primary contenders were Ajax the Greater and Odysseus. While Odysseus was known for his cleverness, he was also a capable warrior and brave, having defended Achilles' body alongside Ajax the Greater after his death.

The challenge lay in determining who was truly the bravest, as bravery is not easily quantifiable. King Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek army, was tasked with the decision. In the most common version of the story, Agamemnon followed the advice of his advisor to ask the Trojans who they considered the bravest Greek warrior, believing those who faced them in battle would know best.

Agamemnon sent spies disguised as Trojans to the enemy camp. The spies subtly inquired about the bravest Greek. While the Trojans acknowledged Ajax's strength and skill, they ultimately pointed to Odysseus, stating that his bravery was even more remarkable because he achieved great feats without Achilles' natural gifts. This intelligence led Agamemnon to award Achilles' armor to Odysseus.

Ajax the Greater was furious at this decision. He felt his strength, skill, and his duel with Hector, where he struck down the Trojan prince with a giant rock, were overlooked. The narrator emphasizes Ajax the Greater's prowess, including his near-single-handed defense of the Greek ships and his duel with Hector, which was only stopped by the gods. It is also mentioned that Ajax the Greater, in his pride, once refused Athena's help in battle, comparing himself to Arachne, who claimed her skill was solely due to her own hard work. This act of hubris may have offended Athena.

Driven by rage and a desire for revenge, Ajax the Greater plotted against Odysseus and Agamemnon. However, Athena, who favored Odysseus, intervened. She cast a spell that caused Ajax to become confused, believing he was attacking his fellow Greeks. In his delusion, he slaughtered a herd of animals, mistaking them for his enemies.

When the spell lifted, Ajax found himself surrounded by the slain animals and the horrified stares of his fellow soldiers. Overwhelmed by shame and the blow to his ego, he returned to his tent and died by suicide. The poet Ovid states that hyacinth flowers sprang from the earth where Ajax the Greater died, symbolizing grief, with the letters "AI" inscribed on their petals, representing the Greek cry of sorrow.

Agamemnon initially refused Ajax a hero's burial, but Odysseus intervened, arguing that even Ajax's actions did not warrant leaving his body to scavengers. A compromise was reached: Ajax was buried in a coffin, not burned on a pyre, a significant dishonor for a Greek hero. Later, during Odysseus's journey home in the underworld, Ajax the Greater appears but refuses to speak to him. Ironically, Achilles' armor, lost at sea on Odysseus's return journey, washes ashore near Ajax the Greater's burial site.

Ajax the Lesser and Divine Punishment

The narrative then shifts to Ajax the Lesser, son of an Argonaut. Though not tall, he was known for his speed and accurate spear-throwing. He was also described as pugnacious, meaning quick to argue or fight, and particularly antagonistic towards Odysseus. This animosity stemmed partly from a foot race where, despite being considered faster than Odysseus, Athena intervened and tripped Ajax the Lesser just before the finish line, ensuring Odysseus's victory.

Ajax the Lesser survived the Trojan War and was one of the soldiers who hid inside the Trojan Horse. However, his actions during the sacking of Troy led to his downfall. The sacking was a brutal event, considered by some to be akin to war crimes, where the Greeks engaged in widespread killing and pillaging.

Ajax the Lesser was particularly egregious in his actions. He stole from the temple of Athena, a grave offense. More significantly, he dragged Cassandra, the prophetess and daughter of the Trojan king, from the statue of Athena where she sought sanctuary. Despite being confronted, Ajax the Lesser denied his actions, even seeking sanctuary in another temple, highlighting his hypocrisy.

Athena, furious at the desecration of her temple and the violation of sanctuary, vowed revenge. She conjured storms to make the Greeks' journey home difficult. As Ajax the Lesser sailed home, his ship was caught in a massive storm and smashed against the Planktaei, or "whirling rocks." Poseidon, for reasons unclear, saved Ajax, leaving him clinging to a rock.

However, instead of showing remorse, Ajax the Lesser, emboldened by his survival, taunted the gods, proclaiming his invincibility. In response, Poseidon, angered by his continued disrespect, cracked the rock Ajax was clinging to, causing him to fall into the sea and drown. Some legends say his body washed ashore on the island of Mykonos and was buried by the sea nymph Thetis.

Conclusion and Takeaways

The episode concludes by summarizing the fates of the two Ajaxes, emphasizing that neither knew "when to give it a rest" and neither was a particularly nice person. The main takeaways are:

• Excessive pride (hubris) can lead to downfall.
• Stealing people is wrong.
• Disrespecting the gods is dangerous.
• Being a sore loser has consequences.

The episode highlights the complex nature of heroism in Greek mythology, where even great warriors could be undone by their flaws and the wrath of the gods.