Ovid Book 13: Ajax

jax and Ulysses verbally contend for the arms of Achilles in front of the chiefs of the Greek army. Ajax emphasizes his exploits on the battlefield and the fact that he has been part of the fight since its inception, unlike Ulysses. He cites his divine ancestry and points out that Ulysses left behind his comrade Nestor during a battle. He boasts that the arms would be too heavy for Ulysses and says Ulysses’ own armor is in perfect condition. Ulysses says personal merit, not ancestry, should determine the victor. He says if ancestry is a factor, then it is worth noting that his lineage is more well-known than Ajax’s. He says if joining a battle late is a vice, it’s a vice he shares with the greatest Greek warrior, Achilles, whom he brought. He has scars to prove his battlefield heroics, which Ajax does not. Finally, he emphasizes how much more intellectual he was in comparison. Ajax may know how to fight, but Ulysses knows when to fight. Ajax would be deemed a pawn, while Ulysses is a schemer and general. The chieftains award Ulysses the arms. Ajax takes his own life.