Set during the ninth year of the Trojan war, play opens outside Ajax’s tent in the Greek camp. Athena speaks first, addressing Odysseus, who is searching for Ajax and wants Athena’s guidance. The Greeks have discovered their herds slaughtered and suspect Ajax. Athena tells Odysseus that she is always watching over him and reveals that Ajax is responsible for the slaughter. He was angry over “the arms of Achilles” and believed he was killing the Greeks, but Athena deluded him (48). He is back in his tent torturing sheep and cows that he believes are Greek warriors, including Odysseus.

Athena tells Odysseus that she will call Ajax to come out, but Odysseus does not want to see his enemy in his maddened state. Athena insists, ordering Odysseus not to be cowardly and to remain quiet. Ajax comes out and thanks Athena for standing by him. She asks him not to torture Odysseus (who Ajax believes is tied up inside his tent), but he tells her “nothing will stop him from receiving this punishment” (51). After he returns to his tent, Odysseus expresses his pity for Ajax, recognizing that it could happen to himself as well. Athena orders him to remember what he has seen and never boast and remain temperate, a quality the gods love.