What roles did Ajax and Achilles have in the Trojan war?

Answer 1

Achilles plays a great role in the Trojan war.When Agamemnon steals the beautiful captive Briseis away from Achilles,Achilles refuses to take part in the war,where after the Greeks suffer one loss after another.But when his best friend Patroclus is killed by Trojan Hector,Achilles emerges vengeful.Thetis has an armor forged for Achilles by the great god Hephaestus.Achilles kills Hector and a great number of other Trojans.Ajax is considered to be the bravest hero,second only to Achilles.In the Trojan war he single-handedly turns back a Trojan counterattack that threatens to set the fleet on fire.

ajax and diomedes are considered the second best Greeks next to Achilles, however both of these heroes are more noble, brave and respectful than Achilles. ajax fights hector to duel early in the iliad, and through out the book both heroes try to kill each, both are unsuccesful, though on occassions both heroes get the upper hand on one another, hector forces ajax to retreat several times and also breaks ajax's spear. however ajax also forces hector to retreat on one occasion when he throws a huge boulder at hector. diomedes is also a great fighter but not as good in my opinion as ajax or hector, he always needs the help of odyesseus and like wise odyesseus always needs diomedes's help. ajax and hector fight alone, relying on their own skill. Achilles i would like to point out is not brave, he doesnt fight for most of the iliad, and has no fear of death, that by definition does not define a hero, he doesnt care about anyone or anything expect his feelings and perhaps patroclus.