AJAX THE LESSER (mortal Greek hero)

He brought forty ships from Locrians living beyond Euboea to join the Greek campaign.^8,4 His Locrian followers were armed with bows and slings made of twisted wool, while his troops lacked bronze helmets, shields, and ashen spears for close combat.⁹ His men shot missiles from behind to break the ranks of the Trojans, causing confusion and making them lose heart.⁹ His group held their ground while the main Achaean body retreated to the ships.¹⁰

In battle, he attacked Satnius, son of Enops, with his spear, striking him in the flank and causing him to fall.^1,11 He captured Cleobulus alive in the battle crush and immediately killed him with a sword strike to the neck.¹² He cut off Imbrius's head to avenge the death of Amphimachus and threw the severed head over the crowd until it landed at Hector's feet.¹³ He stripped the body of Imbrius of its armor and, together with another Ajax, carried it away from the battlefield.¹³ He repeatedly attempted to thrust a spear at Hector, and when he threw a spear that struck Hector's shield, it forced him to retreat from two corpses but failed to wound him due to his armor.^14,13 Trojan chieftains surrounded him with spears, forcing him to retreat.¹⁵ He gathered his best men to sustain the fight against Hector and Trojans.¹⁰

He participated in a footrace alongside Odysseus and Antilochus, initially taking the lead but finishing second behind Odysseus.¹⁶ He received an ox as his prize for finishing second.¹⁶ He scolded Idomeneus for rushing to report the race's progress and claimed he had no right to lay down the law to others.^17,18 Achilles intervened to stop the quarrel between Ajax and Idomeneus and instructed Ajax to sit down and watch the horse race.¹⁸ He stated that Eumelus's horses were leading the race at that moment and later complained that Athena had spoiled his running and favored Odysseus like a mother.^17,16 The Cretan captain accused him of being an excellent railer, lacking judgement, and having a vile temper.¹⁹ He was challenged to a wager regarding which horses would arrive first, with Agamemnon designated to decide the outcome.¹⁹

Athena harbored hatred toward him despite his potential escape from death.²⁰ He felt hatred toward Odysseus because Odysseus suggested the Greeks stone him.²¹ Poseidon drove him onto the great rocks of Gyrae, causing his ship to wreck.²⁰ He boasted that the gods could not drown him even if they tried, and Poseidon split the rock of Gyrae in two after hearing the boast.²⁰ He managed to get safely out of the water after the shipwreck.²⁰ He was believed to possess the ability to cure Leonymus's wound on White Island.²² He was called upon by the Locrians to assist them in battle against Crotona.²²