Ajax

“Ajax” is a tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles. Although the exact date of its first performance is unknown, most scholars date it to relatively early in Sophocles‘ career (possibly the earliest Sophoclean play still in existence), somewhere between 450 BCE to 430 BCE, possibly around 444 BCE.

The subject is taken from a lost epic poem, which was alluded to in Homer‘s “Odyssey”, and it chronicles the fate of the Greek warrior Ajax the Greater after the events of “The Iliad” and the Trojan War.

After the death of Achilles, his armour was decided to be handed over to Odysseus rather than Ajax the higher. The decision took by Agamemnon and Menelaus – the two Greek commanders infuriates Ajax. Therefore, he decides to kill the three and Goddess Athena intervenes. She mystifies the mind of the great warrior and he believes the camp cattle to be the Greek warriors. He slaughters the cattle and this news goes to Odysseus. He tries to inspect the issue and Athena watches Odysseus looking for the truth.

Sophocles - The Tragic Homer is one of the great playwrights the Greek civilisation has ever witnessed. He is famous for his trio of plays called as the Oedipus cycle. The play "Ajax" is considered a remarkable piece of tragedy and the view of a dramatist of the civilisation where gods intervened in the matter of men. The Greek population revered Sophocles and by reading his plays one would feel that their actions are justifiable.