Laocoon (Warning)
heroTrojan priest of Apollo who warned against the wooden horse and was killed with his sons by sea serpents.
The Myth
He threw a spear at the horse and said the most famous warning in literature — then the gods killed him to ensure no one listened. Laocoon struck the wooden horse with a spear and declared: "I fear Greeks even bearing gifts" (Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes). As if in divine punishment, two sea serpents emerged from the sea and crushed Laocoon and his two sons. The Trojans took this as proof that the horse was sacred and Laocoon was punished for attacking it. The opposite was true. Athena or Poseidon sent the serpents to silence the one man who saw through the deception. The Laocoon sculpture group (Vatican Museums) depicting the death scene is considered one of the greatest works of ancient art.
Parents
Acoetes
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Laocoon sculpture (c. 40-30 BC) was called the greatest work of art ever by Pliny the Elder.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Laocoon
heroLaocoon was the Trojan priest who tried to warn Troy about the Wooden Horse — "I fear Greeks even...
Trojan Horse
conceptThe hollow wooden horse used by the Greeks to infiltrate and destroy Troy. Devised by Odysseus, it...
Athena
godGoddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, born fully armored from the head of Zeus. Patron deity of...
Poseidon
godLord of the seas and brother of Zeus. Poseidon's moods shaped the oceans — calm seas for those who...
Poseidon Hippios
godAn epithet of Poseidon as lord of horses, reflecting his role as creator of the first horse and...
Apollo
godGod of light, music, poetry, and prophecy. Apollo embodied the Greek ideal of youthful masculine...
Apollo (Light)
godApollo was the most complex Olympian — god of light, music, poetry, prophecy, healing, plague, and...
Apollo Loxias
godAn epithet of Apollo meaning "the Oblique One," referring to the deliberately ambiguous nature of...
Athena (Warrior)
godAthena was the goddess of wisdom, strategic war, and craftsmanship — born fully armoured from...
Athena Promachos
godAn epithet of Athena meaning "the Champion" or "who fights in front," represented by a colossal...
Poseidon (Earth-Shaker)
godPoseidon was the god of the sea and earthquakes whose moods determined whether sailors lived or...
Sinon
heroGreek soldier who volunteered to stay behind at Troy and convince the Trojans to accept the wooden...