Deciding the "Judgment of Arms"

Abstract:The tale of how Achilles' armor was awarded to a worthy successor evolved to reflect customary procedures and emerging ideology. In this article I offer a new reconstruction of that changing story, as variations in the method of decision reshaped the plot to match audience expectations. The epic version began with ad hoc arbitration and an element of chance that left the loser no one to blame. The generations after Cleisthenes developed a Judgment by majority rule in which each voter must choose for himself but all are responsible, and Αjax becomes a reactionary against that new regime.