Ajax the Great facts for kids

Ajax

Ajax the Great, also known as Aias, was a famous hero from Ancient Greece. He was the son of Telamon and a brave warrior in the great Trojan War. Ajax was also the cousin of the legendary hero, Achilles.

In Homer's famous story, the Iliad, Ajax is shown as a very courageous fighter. He was considered the second-best Greek hero in the war, right after Achilles.

A Strong and Smart Warrior

Ajax battling Hector, engraving by John Flaxman, 1795

In the Iliad, Ajax is described as fearless and incredibly strong. He was also very smart in battle. Ajax led his army carrying a huge shield. This shield was made from seven layers of cowhide and covered with a layer of bronze.

One amazing thing about Ajax is that he was never hurt in any of the battles described in the Iliad. He was also one of the few main characters who didn't get much help from the gods during the fighting. Ajax often fought alongside his brother, Teucer. Teucer was known for being very skilled with a bow and arrow.

The End of a Hero

The Argument between Ajax and Odysseus over Achilles' armour, by Agostino Masucci

Towards the end of the Iliad, Ajax and most of the other Greek warriors were still alive. However, later, Achilles was killed by Paris, with some help from the god Apollo. After Achilles died, Ajax and another hero named Odysseus fought hard against the Trojans. They wanted to get Achilles' body back to bury it properly with his friend Patroclus.

Ajax, using his large shield and spear, managed to carry Achilles' body back to the ships. Meanwhile, Odysseus fought off the Trojans who were trying to stop them. After Achilles was buried, both Ajax and Odysseus wanted his special armor. This armor was magical and had been made on Mount Olympus by the god Hephaestus, who was a skilled craftsman. They both felt they deserved the armor because of their heroic actions.

A competition was held to decide who would get the armor. Ajax argued that he deserved it because of his great strength. He also reminded everyone of how much he had fought for the Greeks. He even saved the ships from Hector and pushed him back with a huge rock. However, Odysseus was a better speaker. With help from the goddess Athena, the council decided to give the armor to Odysseus.

Ajax was heartbroken and very upset by this decision. He felt so defeated by his sadness that he took his own life.

Related pages

• Ajax the Lesser

Images for kids

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  Achilles and Ajax play a game of dice on this early 5th-century BC lekythos, a type of oil-storing vessel associated with funeral rites

See also

In Spanish: Áyax el Grande para niños