Ajax. Date Unknown. |
Prologus, 1-133. (Athena, Odysseus, Ajax)
Athena reveals the madness of Ajax to Odysseus: angry about the arms of Achilles, he has attacked the cattle and sheep, thinking they are Argives, and keeps them captive in his tent. The boast of Ajax.Parodos, 134-200. (Chorus)
Sailors from Salamis are disturbed at the rumors.First episode, 201-595. (Tecmessa, Chorus, Ajax, son [mute])
Kommos, 201-262. Tecmessa reports that Ajax, no longer mad, sits among the corpses of the slaughtered animals. She tells how Ajax went mad during the night. Ajax is heard wailing within.First stasimon, 596-645. (Chorus)Kommos , 348-429. He is revealed sitting among the corpses. He asks the Chorus for death, bewails his shame, curses Odysseus, mourns his fate.
Ajax announces that nothing is left for him, ever since the Atreidae awarded the arms to Odysseus.
Tecmessa begs him not to forsake her. He speaks to his young son Eurysaces.
The malady of Ajax and the sorrow his parents will feel.Second episode, 646-692. (Ajax)
Ajax announces his intention to bury his sword on the shore and renounce his anger.Second stasimon, 693-718. (Chorus)
The joy of the Chorus.Third episode, 719-1184. (Messenger, Tecmessa and son, Ajax,Teucer, Menelaus, Chorus)
Messenger tells of the return of Teucer and his hostile reception by the Argives. Teucer, heeding the warnings of Calchas, has given orders to keep Ajax indoors: the wrath of Athena will vex him on this day only.Third stasimon, 1185-1222. (Chorus)How Ajax inspired divine wrath through his proud words. Ajax is revealed alone on the shore, his sword buried upright in the sand. His prayers for vengeance against his enemies and for an easy death. His suicide.
Epiparados, 866-878. The two semichoruses enter, searching for Ajax.
Kommos, 879-973. Tecmessa discovers Ajax. Teucer enters to find Ajax dead. His dread of his father.
The fatal gift of Hector to Ajax. Menelaus forbids the burial of Ajax. Teucer defies him.Teucer bids Tecmessa and son sit as suppliants by the corpse.
The sorrow of war and the loss of Ajax.Exodos, 1223-1420. (Teucer, Agamemnon, Chorus, Odysseus)
Agamemnon taunts Teucer, who responds by recalling the deeds of Ajax in defense of the Argives. The taunt of Teucer to Agamemnon.Odysseus persuades Agamemnon to allow the burial of Ajax. The burial of Ajax.
AIAS. Ajax . Date is unknown, but judged (along with Antigone ) early on stylistic grounds:
1. The parados has the simplest form, anapaests followed by lyric (not elsewhere in extant plays by Sophocles, though Antigone is similar, but used by Aeschylus in Pers., Suppl., Ag.).
2. Anapaests for the chorus are interposed in the iambic dialogue (this also in Antigone ).
3. Antigone is the only Sophoclean play which follows the Aeschylean practice of not dividing iambic trimeter line between two or more speakers.
Other versions of the story: Odyssey 11.543-547 is the earliest account of the contest between Ajax and Odysseus for the arms of Achilles which resulted in the suicide of Ajax. Aeschylus wrote a trilogy on Ajax: Oplwn krisij (the award of arms), Qr|ssai (the suicide of Ajax), Salaminiai (return of Teucer and Eurysaces to Salamis and banishment of Teucer). Sophocles also wrote a Teucer and Eurysaces .