# Ajax — The Iliad character guide

> Ajax in The Iliad by Homer.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Telamonian Ajax, mighty Ajax, Ajax Telamon, the great Ajax

**First appearance:** 0001-the-iliad

## Snapshot

The Greeks' great wall of a man, second only to Achilles in battle, who holds the line when gods and Hector press the field.

## Who they are

Ajax is the army's bulwark, the warrior comrades call on when a corpse must be saved or a line must hold. His strength is matched by a stubborn loyalty that keeps him planted over Patroclus's body like a lion over its whelps while Hector and the Trojans surge around him. When Achilles sulks and others falter, Ajax's refusal to yield becomes the story's measure of what courage costs.

## In the story

### [Book II: The Trial of the Army, and Catalogue of the Forces](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-ii-the-trial-of-the-army-and-catalogue-of-the-forces)

Summoned with other princes to the sacrifice.

### [Book VII: The Combat of Hector and Ajax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-vii-the-combat-of-hector-and-ajax)

Chosen by lot to fight Hector; duels valiantly until nightfall, then exchanges gifts and returns to the Greek camp.

### [Book IX: The Embassy to Achilles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-ix-the-embassy-to-achilles)

Part of the embassy to Achilles, later speaks bluntly to him about the need for compassion.

### [Book XI: The Third Battle, and Exploits of Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xi-the-third-battle-and-exploits-of-agamemnon)

Rescues Diomed after he is wounded by Paris, helping to rally the Greeks.

### [Book XII: The Battle at the Grecian Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xii-the-battle-at-the-grecian-wall)

Responds to Menestheus' call for aid, kills Epicles with a massive stone.

### [Book XIII: The Continuation of the Fourth Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xiii-the-continuation-of-the-fourth-battle)

Rallied by Neptune's exhortation, stands firm against Hector and the Trojan onslaught.

### [Book XIII: The Continuation of the Fourth Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xiii-the-continuation-of-the-fourth-battle)

Oileus' son perceives Neptune's divine presence and shares his realization with Telamonian Ajax.

### [Book XIV: The Fraud Practised on Jupiter by Juno](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xiv-the-fraud-practised-on-jupiter-by-juno)

Hurls a stone at Hector, striking him on the chest and felling him.

### [Book XV: The Fifth Battle at the Ships](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xv-the-fifth-battle-at-the-ships)

Ajax valiantly defends the Greek ships, leaping from deck to deck with a long pike, rallying the Greeks and resisting Hector's assault.

### [Book XVI: The Sixth Battle—Death of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xvi-the-sixth-battle-death-of-patroclus)

Defends the ships under heavy assault, his spear is cut by Hector, retreats as the ships are set on fire.

### [Book XVII: The Seventh Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xvii-the-seventh-battle)

Rallies the Greeks and stands firm with his shield to protect Patroclus' body.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/ajax_telamon
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters