Priam
Priam was the aged king of Troy, father of fifty sons including Hector and Paris, whose night journey to beg Achilles for Hector's body is the Iliad's most moving scene.
The Legend of Priam
King of Troy and father of fifty sons — including Hector, Paris, and Cassandra — Priam ruled during the city's golden age and watched Zeus's war destroy everything. He saw Achilles slay Hector and drag the body around the walls. Guided by Hermes through the Greek camp at night, the aged king entered Achilles' tent alone and begged for his son's body, clasping the hands that killed Hector. Even Achilles wept. Apollo preserved the corpse. When Troy fell, Priam was murdered at the altar of Zeus by Neoptolemus. His ransom scene remains the Iliad's most profound meeting of enemies.
Parents
Laomedon and Strymo
Symbols
Fun Fact
Priam's scene with Achilles — two enemies weeping together — is considered the greatest moment of empathy in ancient literature.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Laertes
🗡 heroKingship, Old Age, Restoration
Father of Odysseus and aging king of Ithaca who returned to farming during his son's long absence.
Busiris
🗡 heroNone recorded
Egyptian king who sacrificed strangers to Zeus until Heracles broke free and killed him
Aegyptus
🗡 heroNone recorded
A mythological king with fifty sons who demanded marriage to the fifty daughters of his brother Danaus, precipitating one of the most infamous mass killings in Greek mythology
Neleus
🗡 herokingship
Son of Poseidon and Tyro, founder of Pylos, father of Nestor, killed by Heracles for refusing purification.
Erginus
🗡 heroWar, Tribute, Later Fatherhood
King of Orchomenus who exacted tribute from Thebes until defeated by the young Heracles.
Phaedimus
🗡 heroTrojan War, Minor Warriors
Son of Priam who fought at Troy and died defending the city in its final hours.
Antilochus
🗡 heroThe young warrior who died saving Nestor
The son of Nestor who died at Troy protecting his elderly father from Memnon — a sacrifice that moved Achilles to avenge him.
Sarpédon
🗡 heroSon of Zeus who died at Troy
Sarpedon was a son of Zeus and the greatest Lycian warrior at Troy — his death forced Zeus to confront the limits of even divine power.
Idomeneus
🗡 heroKing of Crete at Troy
Idomeneus was the king of Crete who led eighty ships to Troy and was among the fiercest fighters — his story continued in a vow that cost him his son.
Polites
🗡 heroScouting, loyalty
Trojan prince and son of Priam known for his swiftness as a scout and lookout
Idomeneus of Crete
🗡 herowar
King of Crete and grandson of Minos who led eighty ships to Troy and made a rash vow to Poseidon on the voyage home.
Neoptolemus
🗡 heroSon of Achilles
Neoptolemus was Achilles' fierce son, brought to Troy because a prophecy declared the city could not fall without him.