Obolos 20

BITHYNIA. Prusa ad Olympum. Caracalla, 198-217. Diassarion (Bronze, 24 mm, 5.57 g, 12 h). AYT K M AYP ANTΩNINOC Ce KA Laureate head of Caracalla to right. Rev. ΠPOYCAEΩN Ajax the Telamonian, nude but for helmet and balteus, falling on his sword; before, a rocky outcropping; his shield on ground line before him. RG 102. SNG Copenhagen 596. SNG von Aulock 873. Cornell 100. Waddington 102. Rare and interesting mythological type. Well centered and clear. About very fine.

From an American collection.

Ajax was regarded by Homer as the "the bulwark of the Achaeans". Trained by the centaur Chiron, he was renown as the second greatest warrior in Greek mythology after Achilles.

After Achilles' death, Ajax and Odysseus fought the Trojans to retrieve the body of the hero. Following the burial, the two men sought to compete over the divine armor of Achilles that had been divinely forged by Hephaestus. In order to prevent bloodshed, Odysseus proposed to allow the other kings to decide who was worthy to receive the armor.

Both heroes were granted the opportunity to propose their case. Ajax was confident he would win due to his magnificent deeds performed in battle. However, Ajax could not match the eloquence of Odysseus' rhetoric. After the armor was awarded to Odysseus, Ajax left in grief and rage.

Struck by madness, Ajax sought to kill his fellow Greek soldiers around him. After recognizing his folly, he fell on his sword and died.

When Odysseus would later visit the underworld, Ajax continued to express his anger by refusing to speak to him.

The sword in this scene is the weapon that was honorably awarded to Ajax by Hector after he had battled him in single combat to a draw. His shield was crafted by Tychius of Hyle. It was made of seven cow-hides, a layer of bronze, and is described as the size of a city wall.