The Wrath of the Gods and the “Gyrae Rocks”
The gods did not let the insult to Athena go unpunished. During the voyage home, Athena and Poseidon conspired to destroy the Locrian fleet.
1. The Shipwreck: A massive storm wrecked Ajax‘s ship. He managed to scramble onto the Gyrae rocks (near Mykonos).
2. The Hubris: Safely out of the water, Ajax boasted loudly that he had escaped death against the will of the gods.
3. The Execution: Enraged by this final act of pride, Poseidon struck the rock with his trident. The cliff split, and Ajax was cast back into the sea, where he finally drowned.
Historical and Cultural Context
While Ajax the Great was worshipped as a noble hero, Ajax the Lesser served as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris (excessive pride) and asebeia (impiety).
However, the people of Locris continued to honor him as their national hero. For centuries after his death, the Locrians maintained a unique tradition: whenever they drew up their army for battle, they would always leave a vacant space in the front line, believing that the spirit of Ajax the Lesser was still there, fighting invisibly among his people.