Ajax and achilles playing a dice game

As for the Odyssey , the status of Ajax as the second best is more problematic. After the death of Achilles, the possession of his armor had been contested by both Ajax and Odysseus, and the contest had been won, unfairly, by Odysseus. The cheating of Ajax by Odysseus had brought about the most tragic consequences. His intense feelings of anger had caused Ajax, in a fit of madness, to slaughter herds sacred to Athena, and this wanton slaughter led ultimately to his suicide.

This behavior is linked, I argue there, with his everlasting frustration and anger, even after death. And why the anger? It was because he had been cheated out of becoming the best of the Achaeans. The visible proof for being the best would have been the awarding of the armor of Achilles, after that hero had been killed, to Ajax. Instead, the award went to Odysseus—and unfairly so, according to the tradition.

Cult heroes, when they feel benevolent, will cure illnesses afflicting humans, animals, and plants—just as they will inflict these same illnesses when they feel malevolent. Placed behind them, their shields are leaning against another object with their helmets sitting on top in arms reach. Both sit with one of their legs drawn back as Ajax is farther from the table than Achilles.

You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. Create a free website or blog at WordPress. Menu Home Gallery Contact. However, this is a metaphor for the way the myth will unfold.

Achilles facial features, especially that of his eyebrows, show that he is relaxed because Exekias only included a single line. Although the reader of the Iliad and the Odyssey knows the fate of both Ajax and Achilles, the noble way that Exekias depicts both of the heroes with such fine detail in the shape of a vase is so incredibly elegant.

What this vase ultimately does in a very subtle manner is show the importance of the glory of winning, whether it be in a battle or a game of dice. It also depicts the impermanence of human life and how men should take the time, even in a moment of relaxation from a battle, to enjoy the smaller things with friends.

Although this vase does not exactly answer my question of why so many artist chose to depict scenes from the Iliad in their pieces of art, what it does not fail to do is make the Greek heroes of the Trojan War permanent heroes in Greek Mythology. Therefore, permanently engraving the heroics of the two men fighting for their country. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account.

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