Book XI · Episode 5 of 6
Achilles and Ajax
Odysseus consoles Achilles, Ajax silent
Scenes
- Achilles Among the Dead — Achilles’s ghost speaks, Ajax lurks
- Patroclus and Antilochus draw near too
- Achilles asks what courage drove him here
- Odysseus seeks Tiresias’ counsel for Ithaca
- He was honored like a god alive
- Now he rules among the dead
- Achilles’ Lament — Achilles prefers poor life to death
- He asks after his son and Peleus
- Neoptolemus speaks wisely in council
- He fights fearlessly, kills Eurypylus
- No fear grips him in the horse
- Achilles strides off, pleased with his son
- Ajax’s Silent Wrath — Ajax’s ghost resents Achilles’s arms
- Trojans and Athena judged the contest
- Odysseus now wishes he had lost
- Grief over defeat drove Ajax to death
- He blames Zeus’ hatred, not Ajax
- He walks away into Erebus’ darkness