Skip to main content
Greek Mythology Notes

Sarpedon

🗡 heroΣαρπηδών
None recorded

Lycian prince and ally of Troy in the Trojan War, son of Zeus‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍

The Legend of Sarpedon

Sarpedon was the son of Zeus and Laodamia, and he ruled as king of Lycia.‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍ When the Trojan War erupted, he led his Lycian forces to fight alongside the Trojans. He proved himself one of the most formidable warriors on the battlefield, breaching the Greek wall around their ships. His death at the hands of Patroclus was one of the most poignant moments of the Iliad, as Zeus himself wept tears of blood for his mortal son but could not intervene against fate.

Parents

Zeus and Laodamia

Symbols

spearLycian shield

Fun Fact

Zeus wept tears of blood when Sarpedon fell, the only time the king of gods showed such grief for a mortal

Explore Further

Sarpédon

🗡 hero

Son 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.

Graphium sarpedon (blue triangle butterfly)

Polites

🗡 hero

Scouting, loyalty

Trojan prince and son of Priam known for his swiftness as a scout and lookout

Dolops

🗡 hero

Combat, lineage

Trojan warrior and son of Lampus who fought bravely before falling at Troy

Amphimachus

🗡 hero

None recorded

Greek commander from Elis who sailed to Troy and was killed by Hector

Phaedimus

🗡 hero

Trojan War, Minor Warriors

Son of Priam who fought at Troy and died defending the city in its final hours.

Archelochus

🗡 hero

Combat, leadership

Trojan commander and son of Antenor who co-led the Dardanian forces at Troy

Anchises

🗡 hero

Love, royalty, Troy

Trojan prince beloved by Aphrodite and father of Aeneas, the legendary founder of Rome

Hector

🗡 hero

Champion of Troy

Hector was Troy's greatest warrior, who fought not for glory but to defend his city, wife, and son.

hector

Antilochus

🗡 hero

The 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.

Neoptolemus

🗡 hero

Son of Achilles

Neoptolemus was Achilles' fierce son, brought to Troy because a prophecy declared the city could not fall without him.

pyrrhic

Menoeceus

🗡 hero

sacrifice

Young Theban prince who killed himself to save Thebes after Tiresias prophesied the city needed royal blood.

Acamas

🗡 hero

Combat, diplomacy

Trojan warrior and son of Antenor who fought bravely in the defence of Troy