Priam 1 - Greek Mythology Link (original) (raw)
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| Neoptolemus killing King Priam 1 at the altar of Zeus. 4111: Priam's death. French painting from the 17C. Palais des beaux-arts, Lille. |
| "Of all the cities that men live under the sun and the starry sky, the nearest to my heart was Troy, with Priam and the people of Priam." (Zeus to Hera. Homer, Iliad 4.45). "I have endured what no other mortal on the face of earth has yet endured, to reach forth my hand to the face of him that has slain my sons." (King Priam 1 to Achilles. Homer, Iliad 24.505). |
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Priam 1 was king of Troy when the Trojan War took place, and his fate was that of utter ruin for his country, his family, and himself.
Heracles 1 puts Priam 1 on the throne
When Heracles 1 came into conflict with King Laomedon 1 of Troy, he attacked the city, and having taken it, he killed the king and all his sons, except little Podarces, later called Priam 1, because, as they say, Heracles 1 was conquered by the child's tears. And instead of making a display of violence against a weak enemy, he chose to show mercy, and having decided to spare the life of the child, he told him:
"Take the reins and rule your state, sitting on your father's throne, but wield the sceptre with better faith." (Heracles 1 to Priam 1. Seneca, Troades 718ff.).
The Palace of Priam 1
Priam 1 ruled from a magnificent palace, which was fronted by marble colonnades. In the main building there were fifty apartments of polished stone, where his sons lived with their wives. His daughters occupied the chambers in the building on the other side of the courtyard, and there they lived with the sons-in-law of the king.
Fought the AMAZONS
Priam 1 is said to have fought the AMAZONS together with Mygdon, king of the Bebrycians, and Otreus 1, king of the Phrygians. But during the Trojan War, the AMAZONS fought as Trojan allies against the invading Achaeans.
His two first sons with his second wife
Priam 1 married first Arisbe, but he handed her over to the Phrygian Hyrtacus, and married a second wife Hecabe 1. Of this marriage Hector 1 was born first, but when a second child was about to be born Hecabe 1 dreamt she had brought forth a firebrand, which destroyed the city of Troy. Aesacus 1, who could interpret dreams, said that the child was to become the ruin of his country, and advised to expose him. When the child was born, King Priam 1, following the prophecy, gave his son to a servant Agelaus 2 in order to be exposed on Mount Ida, not far away from Troy. However, the child, having being nursed five days by a bear, survived, and when Agelaus 2 returned and found him safe, he carried the child away, called him Paris, and brought him up as his own son.
Prophecy fulfilled
The prophecy proved to be true, for Paris, having decided to get himself a wife from Hellas, sailed to Sparta and carried off lovely Helen from a warlike family. So, soon Priam 1 and the Trojans found themselves besieged by a powerful army, determined to face no matter which calamities in order to have that woman restored.
Some have thought that there is no proportion between what is said to be the cause of this war, that is, the abduction of Helen, and the war itself, for they believe that such a huge event as the Trojan War is unlikely to be carried on to the end for the sake of a single woman. For Priam 1, they argue, could not be so mad as to agree to risk his house, people, and city so that Paris could sleep with Helen, nor Hector 1, who was the crown prince, could have allowed that folly. So they find more reasonable to believe that the war occurred because of a woman that was not at Troy, and not because of a woman that was there. And they proceed to say that the Trojans did not have Helen, and could not therefore give her back, but the Achaeans, disbelieving the Trojans, kept on fighting, and although they finally conquered the city, they could not find Helen at Troy. This is what they say they learned about the Trojan War through wise Egyptian priests, who affirmed that while the Achaeans and Trojans fought each other at Troy and perished, Helen and the property were safe in Egypt.
Helen's beauty adorned the city
But others have no doubt about Helen being at Troy. They even say that the Elders of the city, who the worst they fought the best they spoke, talked about her with admiration, praising her beauty and considering her a jewel, worth to possess:
Who could blame the Trojans and Achaeans for suffering so long for such a woman's sake? Indeed she is the very image of an immortal goddess." (Elders of Troy. Homer, Iliad 3.155).
And yet they could also come to their senses and add:
"All the same, and lovely as she is, let her sail home and not stay here to vex us and our children after us." (Elders of Troy. Homer, Iliad 3.160).
King Priam 1 himself did not find her presence too embarrassing:
"Dear child, come here and sit in front of me ... I bear you no ill will at all: I blame the gods." (Priam 1 to Helen. Homer, Iliad 3.162).
Priam 1 does not oppose Paris
Later, when the Elder Antenor 1 demanded in a Trojan council that Helen and the property be restored, and Paris answered that of both he would only restore the property, firmly declaring that he would not give Helen back, Priam 1 intervened, and far from putting pressure on his son, he recommended that Paris' offer should be proposed to the Achaeans, a proposal that was well received by the council, which acted on it. But the Achaeans, who by then had understood that the Trojans' doom was sealed, rejected the agreement.
As the end approaches Priam 1 tries to influence the course of events
It is not before Hector 1 declared that he would meet Achilles in single combat, that Priam 1 made a serious effort to change the course of events. For Hector 1 was the pillar of Troy's defence besides being his son, and if he fell everything else would follow in the fall. That is why he says:
"I beg you, my dear son, no to stand up against Achilles alone and unsupported ... He is far stronger than you ... So come inside the walls, my child, to be the saviour of Troy and the Trojans ... Have pity too on me, your poor father ... Think of the horrors I shall have to see before I die, the massacre of my sons, my daughters abused, their bedrooms pillaged, their babies dashed on the ground ... and I shall be torn to pieces by dogs at my own street door." (Priam 1 to his son Hector 1. Homer, Iliad 22.40ff.).
But neither his words nor his wife's could change the resolution of the stubborn son.
Priam 1 grovels in the dung
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| Iris comes to Priam | il455flax: "Iris came to the house of Priam, and found therein clamour and wailing ... : 'Be of good courage, O Priam, and fear nothing ... I am a messenger rom Zeus ... The Olympian asks that you ransom goodly Hector, and bear gifts to Achilles ...'" (Hom.Il.24.160) John Flaxman (1755 – 1826). |
When Achilles killed Hector 1, he inflicted the most shameful outrages to the dead man's body in front of the Trojan walls. As Priam 1 saw what was happening he was overwhelmed by anguish, and made an attempt to leave the city through the Dardanian Gate. His people finally stopped him but he, grovelling in the dung and weeping, implored them to let him go to the ships, and beg for the body of his son to the inhuman monster that was outraging it. That was just the beginning, for Achilles, who did not know of other ways to calm his anger for the death of his dear friend Patroclus 1, planned to put to the sword twelve Trojan prisoners, and let them burn in the funeral pyre of Patroclus 1, which he also did. But the body of Hector 1 he intended to give to the dogs to eat. However, Aphrodite protected the corpse of Hector 1, anointing it with ambrosia, and the dogs did not approach, and when Achilles dragged the body with his chariot round Patroclus 1's grave, Apollo saved the flesh from destruction. In this way Achilles treated the body during twelve days. So seeing that there were no limits for Achilles' wrath, Zeus decided that the angry man should accept a ransom from King Priam 1, and give the body of Hector 1 up. For that purpose, Zeus sent Thetis to calm Achilles, and Iris 1 with a message for Priam 1, instructing him to come to the ships, and with the help of gifts, persuade Achilles.
The bitterness of Priam 1 falls upon his sons
That is how Priam 1 left Troy and went to see Achilles, carrying twelve robes, twelve cloaks, twelve sheets, twelve mantles, twelve tunics, and besides bringing gold, tripods, cauldrons, and a Thracian cup, at a time when he most of all wished to die. For no other son he loved so much as Hector 1, and that is why, while leaving for the ships to meet Achilles, this bitter father told them:
"My good-for-nothing and inglorious sons! I only wish you had all been killed instead of Hector." (Priam 1 to several of his sons. Homer, Iliad 24.250).
And so, hoping to be received by Achilles with kindness and compassion, he left the city.
Priam 1 ransoms the body of Hector 1
Achilles had already made his mind since Thetis had persuaded him to let his wrath aside, so Priam 1 was able, after this delicate meeting, to ransom the corpse. But in all details he was forced to do as he was told, including to dine with the killer of his son. When they parted a truce of twelve days was agreed between Achilles and Priam 1 for the funeral of Hector 1.
Death at last
When later Troy was taken, Achilles' son Neoptolemus looked for Priam 1, who tired of witnessing so much ruin and death, longed himself to die. So on seeing Neoptolemus approaching the altar of Zeus where he had taken refuge he said:
"Son of Achilles, slay me, and pity not my misery. I have no will to see the sun's light more." (Priam 1 to Neoptolemus. Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy 13.225).
And Neoptolemus, dragging him out of the temple, slew him at the gate of his own palace. With the death of Priam 1 also his house was extinguished, but some have said that little Astyanax 2, son of Hector 1 and Priam 1's grandson, survived and years later became king of Scepsis, a place not far away from Troy.
Namesake
Priam 2 is a companion of the exiled Aeneas.
| Family | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | Parentage (three versions) Laomedon 1 & Strymo Laomedon 1 & Leucippe 2 Laomedon 1 & Placia Laomedon 1 was king of Troy before Priam 1. During his time Apollo and Poseidon, disguised as mortal men fortified Troy for wages. But when they had done their work the king refused to pay their wages, and therefore Apollo sent a pestilence, and Poseidon a sea-monster which snatched away the people of the plain. Following oracles who promised deliverance from these calamities, Laomedon 1 exposed Hesione 2 to be devoured by the sea-monster. Seeing what was happening, Heracles 1 promised to save her on condition of receiving from Laomedon 1 the mares with which Zeus had compensated him for having ravished Ganymedes. The king accepted, but when Heracles 1 had saved the girl, Laomedon 1, as before, refused to give him the agreed reward. Because of this broken promise, Heracles 1 attacked Troy, killed Laomedon 1, and put Priam 1 on the throne. Strymo is a daughter of the river god Scamander 1 and Idaea 1. Placia is daughter of Otreus 1, a Phrygian warrior whose people had once fought with Priam 1 against the AMAZONS. | |
| Mates & Offspring "a)", "b)", etc. indicate different versions; "---" means unknown, thatis, other women |
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| Mates Offspring Notes --- Aegeoneus Apd.3.12.5. a) Arisbe b) Alexiroe Aesacus 1 Arisbe was the daughter of the seer Merops 1. Alexiroe was the daughter of the River God Granicus. Aesacus 1, who learned the art of interpreting dreams from Merops 1, is the man who declared that Paris was to become the ruin of Troy, and advised, when Paris was born, to expose him. When his wife Asterope 1 died, he mourned for her and was turned into a diving bird. Apd.3.12.5; Ov.Met.11.763. --- Agathon Apd.3.12.5; Hyg.Fab.90. --- Antinous 1 Hyg.Fab.90. --- Antiphonus Killed by Neoptolemus at Troy. Hom.Il.24.250; QS.13.215. |
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| Genealogical Charts Names in this chart: Acamas 1, Adrastus 2, Aeneas, Aesacus 1, Agamemnon, Aganus, Agathon, Ajax 2, Altes, Andromache, Antinous 1, Antiphonus, Antiphus 2, Archemachus 1, Aretus 1, Arisbe, Aristodeme, Aristomache, Ascanius 1, Ascanius 2, Asterope 1, Astyanax 2, Astygonus, Astynomus, Astyoche 3, Atas, Atlas, Axion 2, Batia 1, Biantes 2, Bias 2, Brissonius, Bunomus, Callirrhoe 3, Cassandra, Castianira, Cebren, Cebriones, Cestrinus, Chersidamas 1, Chirodamas, Chromius 1, Chrysolaus, Clonius 1, Corythus 4, Creusa 2, Dardanus 1, Dardanus 2, Deidamia, Deiphobus 1, Deipylus 1, Demnosia, Democoon, Demosthea, Dius 1, Dolon 2, Doryclus 1, Dryops 2, Dymas 2, Echemmon 1, Echephron 1, Electra 3, Eresus, Erichthonius 1, Ethionome, Etias, Eurydice 6, Evagoras 1, Evander 1, Glaucus 2, Gorgythion, Hecabe 1, Hector 1, Helen, Helenus 1, Helicaon 1, Henicea, Hero 1, Hippasus 9, Hippodamas 2, Hipponous 2, Hipposidus, Hippothous 4, Hyperion 2, Hyperochus, Idaea 1, Idaeus 5, Idomeneus 2, Ilagus, Iliona, Ilus 2, Imbrius, Isus, Iulus 2, Laodice 3, Laodocus 1, Laogonus 2, Laomedon 1, Laothoe 2, Lycaon 1, Lysianassa 4, Lysides, Lysimache 2, Lysithous, Medesicaste 1, Medusa 3, Melanippus 2, Merops 1, Mestor 2, Munitus, Mylius, Nereis, Oenone 1, Otreus 1, Palaemon 4, Pammon 1, Paris, Pelops 2, Phegea, Philaemon, Philomela 3, Placia, Pleione, Polydorus 3, Polymedon, Polymelus 2, Polymestor 1, Polyxena 1, Priam 1, Proneus, Protodamas, Romus, Scamander 1, Simois, Teledamus 1, Telephus, Telestas, Teucer 2, Troilus, Tros 1, Zeus. | |
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| Related sections | Trojan War |
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| Sources Abbreviations | Apd.3.12.3-5; Apd.Ep.5.21; Hom.Il. passim; QS.13.238; SI.1; Try.634; Vir.Aen.2.550ff., 8.157. |

