Ajax and Hector

Joseph Anthony Mugnaini

A lithograph done by Joseph Mugnaini in 1953, working with the California Master Printer, lithographer Lynton Kistler. From a series of mythological themes done in editions of 20. This impression is accompanied by an 'authentication' from Kistler and signed by Mugnaini.

Mugnaini began his long-time collaboration with author Ray Bradbury in 1952, during which time he interpreted and illustrated many of Bradbury's books, including "Fahrenheit 451" through the "Martian Chronicles".

This image depicts the dual between Ajax, a Greek prince, and Hector, the eldest son of the Trojan king Priam and his queen Hecuba from Homer's Iliad. The two combatants were equally matched in strength and stamina but Ajax did manage to wound Hector. They agreed to a truce with Hector giving Ajax his sword and Ajax giving Hector his girdle. The gifts were cursed as Ajax killed himself with the sword and Hector's dead body was dragged by Ajax's girdle behind Achille's chariot.