The Two Homers of Tragedy: Sophocles' Ajax between the Iliad and the Odyssey

Key Points

• This article examines the interplay of allusions in Sophocles' Ajax to the Iliad and the Odyssey, focusing on the character of Ajax.
• Analyzed the family scene in Ajax to establish connections with the Iliad and the Odyssey.
• Compared previous scholarship on Ajax's character development in relation to both epics.
• Interpreted the duality of Ajax's character through the lens of Homeric tradition.
• Sophocles presents Ajax as a complex figure influenced by both the Iliad and the Odyssey.
• Ajax transitions from a cooperative warrior in the Iliad to a more isolated character in the Odyssey.
• The play emphasizes the importance of Homeric tradition in understanding character reception.

Abstract