Priam was the last king of Troy, according to Greek mythology. He ruled the city during the Trojan War and was connected to both its beginning and its end. His myth attracts the compassion of many who hear it and serves as a reminder that family is the most important aspect of life.
Origins
Priam was the youngest son of King Laomedon. His birth name was Podarces. When he was still a child, his father promised his sister Hesione in marriage to Hercules, the great Greek hero. However, the king broke his promise, and in an act of revenge, Hercules attacked Troy and killed all of King Laomedon’s sons except Podarces, who was saved by offering him a golden veil. He was captured and sold into slavery. Fortunately, Hesione bought him at the slave market and changed his name to Priam to protect his true identity.
While still a young boy, Priam was placed on the throne of Troy by Hercules. He grew into his role as king with grace and proved himself more than capable of taking on the responsibility. He was known as an honest ruler, expanding the government of Troy and bringing prosperity to the people. His true test as king, however, would not come until many years later.
Legends and Stories
The myth of Priam is filled with sadness and tragedy. His life was filled with pain and mourning, from his childhood to his last day, as the following stories demonstrate.
The Beginning of the War
The famous Greek warrior Hercules had kidnapped Hesione. Since she had once saved Priam, he felt obliged to do the same for her. Unable to make the journey himself, he sent his son, Paris, to conquer her. But instead of bringing Hesione back, Paris captured Helen, the wife of the King of Sparta.
The leaders of Greece were furious with Paris and King Priam. This marked the beginning of the Trojan War between the Greeks and the Trojans, which would last 10 years, with the loss of human life on both sides. When the war began, Priam was no longer the young warrior he once was. He relied on his sons to wage war in his honor. This would have dire consequences for the king.
The Death of Hector
As the Trojan War progressed, Priam was continually pushed to breaking point as more and more of his sons were killed in battle; he witnessed many of the deaths firsthand. Several of his daughters were also taken prisoner.
Towards the end of the war, Achilles killed Hector, heir to the throne. This devastated Priam, and the loss was made even worse when Achilles tied Hector’s body to a chariot and disrespected him by dragging him around in circles through the mud and dirt in front of the city.
Against his wife’s wishes, Priam approached Achilles and begged him to return Hector’s body. Achilles laughed in the old king’s face, but changed his mind when Priam collapsed in front of him, explaining everything he had lost through his sobs. This was an important turning point for Achilles, who was not associated with compassion. Achilles returned Hector’s body to the king and agreed to a temporary truce so that a proper burial could take place.
It is after this truce that the famous story of the Trojan War takes place. The Trojans began to think they had won the war, and while they were celebrating, they discovered a large wooden horse that had been left outside the city gates. Cassandra, one of Priam’s daughters, warned the authorities that there were troops hidden inside the horse, but her prophecy was not taken seriously. The horse was brought inside the city walls, the hidden troops attacked, and the Trojans lost the war as a result.
Priam’s Last Day
Neoptolemus was a brutal fighter during the Trojan War. He was also the son of Achilles. As the war was coming to an end and the fall of Troy was inevitable, Priam witnessed Neoptolemus killing one of his sons, Polites. Priam, though old and frail, was overcome with rage and threw a spear at the warrior. But his throw was too weak, and Neoptolemus found the act amusing. He then dragged the king to a family altar and killed him, symbolizing the final fall of all that Troy had left.
Family
Priam had a large family, including several wives and a long line of descendants. His first wife, Arisbe, gave birth to Esacus, Priam’s first son. Esacus did not live to see the Trojan War. Priam divorced Arisbe to marry Hecuba. He also had several other wives, resulting in the birth of 50 sons along with several daughters.
One of his daughters, Cassandra, had the ability to see the future and warned her father about the destruction of the city. Hector was the first son born to Hecuba, making him the heir to the throne and much loved by the king. Another son who would play an important role in Priam’s destiny was Paris, who was responsible for starting the Trojan War.
Appearance
Priam is often depicted as an elderly man, at the end of his reign. Many artistic representations of him show him begging Achilles for Hector’s body. In these images, he appears worn out and hopeless. Other common depictions of Priam show him in his final moments, with Neoptolemus standing beside him.
Symbolism
The legacy of the last king of Troy does not leave many symbols behind. Rather than being associated with his great city, he is forever linked to its downfall, which was caused by his own son. Priam gave everything he had, including his family and his own life, in an attempt to save Troy, but he was no match for his opponents.
Most artistic representations of the king refer to the moment that showed Priam’s vulnerability. When he had to beg for his son’s body, he was no longer seen as a respected king. Although Priam ruled a magnificent city for decades, he is now associated with the negative moments of his life.
