Sarpédon
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.
The Legend of Sarpédon
Son of Zeus and a Lycian princess, Sarpedon fought as Troy's greatest non-Trojan ally alongside Hector and Paris. When he faced Patroclus in combat, Zeus considered snatching his son from the battlefield, but Hera warned that other gods would demand the same privilege. Zeus wept tears of blood and let fate proceed. Patroclus killed Sarpedon; Apollo then cleansed the body, and Zeus sent Sleep and Death to carry him home to Lycia. His death foreshadowed Patroclus's own fall, then Hector's, then Achilles' — the chain of killings that fulfilled the war's destiny.
Symbols
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
Hector
🗡 heroChampion of Troy
Hector was Troy's greatest warrior, who fought not for glory but to defend his city, wife, and son.
Neoptolemus
🗡 heroSon of Achilles
Neoptolemus was Achilles' fierce son, brought to Troy because a prophecy declared the city could not fall without him.
Sarpedon
🗡 heroNone recorded
Lycian prince and ally of Troy in the Trojan War, son of Zeus
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.
Antilochus
🗡 herowar
Son of Nestor, youngest Greek commander at Troy, beloved companion of Achilles who died protecting his father.
Tydeus
🗡 heroThe ferocious warrior who forfeited immortality
A hero of savage courage who fought as one of the Seven Against Thebes but lost Athena's gift of immortality in his final moment.
Ilioneus
🗡 heroHerding, Troy
Trojan warrior whose name means man of Ilion, killed by Peneleos during the great battles
Hippothous
🗡 heroPelasgian leadership, combat
Leader of the Pelasgian allies of Troy who was killed fighting over the body of Patroclus
Diomedes
🗡 heroThe hero who wounded two Olympian gods in a single day
The king of Argos who fought at Troy with such ferocity that he wounded both Aphrodite and Ares — becoming one of the only mortals to injure gods.
Tlepolemos
🗡 heroRhodian leadership, Heracles heritage
Son of Heracles who led the Rhodian contingent at Troy and was killed by Sarpedon
Bathycles
🗡 heroWealth, combat
Greek or Trojan warrior known for his family's wealth who died in the fighting at Troy
Amphiaraus
🗡 heroThe prophet who foresaw his own death at Thebes
A warrior-prophet who knew the Seven Against Thebes would fail but marched to his death anyway, swallowed by the earth.