Ajax, the archetypal Greek warrior, has over the years been trivialized as a peripheral character in the classics through Hollywood representations, and by the use of his name on household cleaning products. Examining a broad range of sources—from film, art and literature to advertising and sports—this study of the “Bulwark of the Achaeans” and his mythological image redefines his presence in Western culture, revealing him as the predominant voice in The Iliad and in myriad works across the classical canon.

Timothy V. Dugan is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Arts, St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York.

Timothy V. Dugan
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 430
Bibliographic Info: 36 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6396-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2835-6
Imprint: McFarland

Preface: Spielberg and Homer, ­T-Rex and Ajax 1
Introduction: Who Is Ajax? 3
1. Homer: The Iliad 13
2. Ajax in Antiquity 60
3. The Medieval and Renaissance Ajax 69
4. The ­Neo-Classical and Romantic Ajax 87
5. Ajax in English, Irish and American Letters 127
6. Ajax in Modern Art 159
7. Ajax in Music 192
8. Ajax on the High Seas 220
9. Ajax in Athletics: Dutch Football 254
10. The Bleeding Edge Ajax 274
11. The Heavy Metal Ajax 327
12. Ajax® in Advertising 345
Conclusion: Ajax Studies 363
Chapter Notes 367
Works Cited 390
Index 401