#menesthelaus

[ilions-end]

i'm very taken with the interpretation that the characters in the iliad treat the collective term Aiantes as having two definitions; either the two ajaxes, or the telamonian bros.

in book 12 menesthelaus tells his messenger to get "the Aiantes" to come help him, and specifies he'd prefer the two ajaxes, but he'll still be happy if he gets big ajax and teucer instead.

it sets up the idea that ajax+teucer is the "old" definition (the way a duo might be named for its more famous/dominant half) and then throughout the war the meaning has gradually shifted through frequent use to mean big ajax+little ajax instead.