Priam

Death of Príamo at the hands of Neoptólemo, the son of Achilles, aathic amphora of black figures, h. 520-510 a. C., Louvre Museum

In Greek mythology, Priam (Ancient Greek Πρίαμος Priamos) was the mythical king of Troy at the time of the Trojan War. He was the son of Laomedon and the nymph Strymon, daughter of Scamander.According to Herodotus, during his reign the Trojans refused to return Helen to the Greeks because of the latter's kidnapping of Medea.

Myth

According to Apollodorus, it was first called Podarces (Ancient Greek Ποδάρκης, Podárkês, «light-footed»). When he was still a boy, Heracles saved his sister Hesione from being eaten by a sea monster sent by Poseidon. Laomedon did not want to pay the promised reward and Heracles, enraged, launched an offensive against Troy and killed the entire royal family. Podarces was saved by his sister so as not to be turned into a slave, who paid a symbolic price for him: his veil. Henceforth, the child would be known as Priam. Some scholars derive its name from the Luwian Priimuua, meaning "exceptionally brave". According to Apollodorus the name derives from priamai, meaning "to buy".

He fought as a young man with the Phrygians against the Amazons. Still very young, he took over the kingdom and — little by little — spread his power throughout the region, to such an extent that Troy came to be known as &# 34;The owner of Asia".

Príamo and Héctor, sculpture of John Adam (s. XVIII, R.A.B.A.S.F., Madrid)

Priam first married Arisbe, daughter of Merope, who bore him a son, Aesacus. He but he abandoned her and married Hecuba for the second time. From Hecuba, Priam had a very numerous offspring, —fifty children, according to some versions—, among whom were Hector, Paris, Helenus, Deiphobo, Troilus, and Cassandra.

Under his mandate, the legendary Trojan War took place against the Greeks who demanded the return of Helena.

He is described in the Iliad giving proof of immense goodness and exemplary justice. Unlike his advisers, he did not blame Helena for the war (see teichoscopy).

Priam was too old to take part in the fighting and had to limit himself to presiding over the councils. One by one he saw his sons perish. His grief reached paroxysm when Achilles slew Hector in single combat before the walls of Troy, then dragged his body through the dust. The old king, humiliated, went to the enemy camp to meet the victor, to beg him to return the body of his son in exchange for a high ransom. The meeting of Achilles and Priam is one of the most moving passages of the Iliad (Canto XXIV). According to Apollodorus and Hyginus, Priam was killed by Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles.

When Troy fell, prey to fire, Priam wanted to take up arms to try a desperate defense, but his wife Hecuba dragged him to the altar of Zeus, at the back of the palace, to put him under the god's protection.

Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, mercilessly slaughtered him when he discovered his hiding place.

Offspring

He is known for having had numerous progeny, according to the Iliad, he had a total of 50 sons and 12 daughters, but Homer only cites 23 sons and two daughters. As for Apollodorus, he provides a list of 46 sons (or 47, depending on whether or not Troilus is counted, who is considered the son of Hecuba and Apollo) and eight daughters. Higino gives 55 names.

In the following table, when a name is mentioned by one of the authors, the cell is colored and if they have specified their mother's name it appears in the cell and if they do not mention it, it is indicated with inc..

In the following table, when a name is mentioned by one of the authors, the cell is colored and if the mother's name is specified, it appears in the cell, if it is not indicated with the mention inc..

Fonts

• Mythological Library.
• Mythological Library, Epitome.
• HIGINO: Fables.
• Iliad .