Mythology of Ajax the Lesser

Ancient Greek-Lokris, Lokri Opuntii. Silver Stater ca. 350-340 BC. The reverse depicts the hero “Ajax the Lesser”, commander of the Lokrians in the Trojan War. Counted among the heroes of the Greeks, he was arrogant and conceited, and because of this, he died by the hand of the gods. After the capture of Troy, the king’s daughter Cassandra fled to the Temple of Athena to plead for protection. Ajax the Lesser found her and dragged her from the temple, toppling the statue in the process. As punishment Athena sent a major storm on the fleet of the Greeks, scattering the ships. Athena sank Ajax’s ship with a thunderbolt, he survived by clinging to a rock.

He boasted that he had braved the wrath of the gods, but Poseidon, upon hearing this display of hubris, split the rock with his trident, causing Ajax to drown.