AboutIrulan Serena Expertise Able to answer any question dealing with Greco-Roman mythology. Experience comes from teaching classical literature in all levels of the school curriculum from middle school to university level for thirty-eight years.
Question In Book VII Ajax and Hector fight until darkness approaches, then agree to suspend their duel until the next day. However, in Book VIII when the fighting resumes, both armies are engaged. Why did the single-handed fight not finish?
Answer Ajax was the son of the king of Salamis, Telamon. As a suitor of Helen, Ajax had been obligated by the oath of Tyndareus to fight for the return of Helen to Menelaus. He fulfilled his obligation by leading twelve ships with troops from Salamis to Troy.
There he fought in single combat against Hector, but he was not slain. They were equally matched in courage and strenght; neither was able to kill the other the fight stops and they promise to continue the following day, however they begin to talk and become friends. To honor their new found friendship Hector and Ajax exchanged gifts. Hector gave Ajax his sword and Ajax gave Hector his belt. It was by this belt that Achilles dragged Hector through the dirt.
After Achilles was killed, his armor was awarded to the Greek thought most heroic. Ajax thought that with Achilles dead, the prize should have been his. Instead, the prize was awarded to Odysseus. Ajax went mad and tried to kill Odysseus and other Greeks. Athena intervened and made him see Greeks where there were really cattle. When Ajax recovered, he was mortified by his deeds, although still aggrieved by the slight, and so killed himself using the sword Hector had given him.
