From RayR - 25mm Trojan Wars - Ajax the Great (25pts)

  

I'm late posting my first entry into this years challenge, this is the first chance I've had to get my laptop out and do the post, its pretty short and sweet though, but at least I've got some points up.

Every Christmas I paint my Dad up a figure for his display collection, last year he had Achilles and Odysseus, so I thought I'd carry on with the Trojan War hero theme. Here we have Ajax or Ajax the Great or Greater Ajax , whichever name you want to call him.

Ajax was the son of King Telamon of Aegina and the Grandson of Zeus.

As the Iliad comes to a close, Ajax and the majority of other Greek warriors are alive and well. When Achilles dies, killed by Paris (with help from Apollo), Ajax and Odysseus are the heroes who fight against the Trojans to get the body and bury it with his companion, Patroclus. Ajax, with his great shield and spear, manages to recover the body and carry it to the ships, while Odysseus fights off the Trojans. After the burial, each claims Achilles' magical armor, which had been forged on Mount Olympus by the smith-god Hephaestus, for himself as recognition for his heroic efforts. A competition is held to determine who deserves the armor. Ajax argues that because of his strength and the fighting he has done for the Greeks, including saving the ships from Hector, and driving him off with a massive rock, he deserves the armor. However, Odysseus proves to be more eloquent, and with the aid of Athena, the council gives him the armor. Ajax, distraught by this result and "conquered by his own grief", plunges his sword into his own chest, killing himself. In the Little Iliad, Ajax goes mad with rage at Odysseus' victory and slaughters the cattle of the Greeks. After returning to his senses, he kills himself out of shame

So my small start will give me a massive 5 points!

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First, welcome back to the Challenge, Ray!

Your Ajax looks brilliant, and I really enjoyed reading your background on him, but I have to say the best part is that you did him up for your dad as part of a recurring Christmas gift. I think that's just great.

I'm going to give you the Gift Shop bonus for a gifted figure. Well done.

Great to have you back, Ray!

- Curt