Ajax son of Telamon
Family: Greek · Role: warrior · First appears: Apollodorus, Library 3.10
🌐 Also appears in: The Iliad (as Ajax son of Telamon)
Ajax son of Telamon was the son of Telamon and Periboea, whom Telamon named Ajax. In single combat, he fought Hector after the lot fell to him, performing great deeds until night separated them; he also wrestled Odysseus, and the two were rivals. When Achilles withdrew, Ajax joined Odysseus and Phoenix as ambassadors who begged him to return to the fight.
During the fierce struggle for Patroclus’ body, Ajax rescued it with difficulty through feats of valor, and in another fight over a corpse he killed Glaucus. Later, Athena drove him mad and turned him, sword in hand, among the cattle; when others would have killed him, he fled to her altar and was spared. After losing Achilles’ arms and coming to his senses, Ajax killed himself; Agamemnon forbade his body to be burned.
Relationship record
Life events
- After losing Achilles’ arms and falling into madness, Ajax son of Telamon killed himself.(Apollodorus, Epitome 5)
- “But afterwards he came to his senses and slew also himself.”
Apollodorus, Library 3.12
- parent: Telamon “And Telamon married Periboea, daughter of Alcathus, son of Pelops, and called his son Ajax”
- parent: Periboea “And Telamon married Periboea, daughter of Alcathus, son of Pelops, and called his son Ajax”
Apollodorus, Epitome 4
- enemies with Hector “And Hector having challenged the bravest to single combat, many came forward, but the lot fell on Ajax, and he did doughty deeds; but night coming on, the heralds parted them.”
- with Patroclus (Ajax rescued Patroclus's corpse.) “And a fierce fight taking place for the corpse, Ajax with difficulty, by performing feats of valor, rescued the body.”
- rivals with Odysseus (They competed against each other in wrestling.) “at which Diomedes was victorious in the chariot race, Epeus in boxing, and Ajax and Ulysses in wrestling.”
- with Achilles (Ajax was sent as an ambassador to Achilles.) “But the Greeks sent Ulysses, Phoenix, and Ajax as ambassadors to Achilles, begging him to fight for them, and promising Briseis and other gifts.”
Apollodorus, Epitome 5
- with Glaucus (interaction) “A fight taking place for the corpse, Ajax killed Glaucus,”
- rivals with Odysseus “Also his arms were offered as a prize to the bravest, and Ajax and Ulysses came forward as competitors.”
- with Athena (interaction) “And Athena drove him mad, and turned him, sword in hand, among the cattle,”
- with Athena (Ajax fled to Athena's altar.) “And they would have killed Ajax, but he fled to the altar and they let him alone.”
- with Agamemnon (interaction) “Agamemnon forbade his body to be burnt;”
⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places → · 🌳 Family orrery →
Extracted from the original text of Greek Mythology. Made with Rho MD.