Laomedon

Laomedon

Laomedon was a king of Troy in Greek mythology, son of Ilus and grandson of Tros. He was the father of a number of children, including Podarces, who was later better known as Priam, and Hesione. His uncle was Ganymede, who was kidnapped by Zeus and became the cupbearer of the gods on Mount Olympus; to compensate for the kidnapping, Zeus had gifted numerous horses to Laomedon's grandfather, Tros.

After offending Zeus, the gods Apollo and Poseidon were told to serve Laomedon by building the walls of Troy. Laomedon told the gods he would reward them generously, a promise he did not keep in the end. The gods, angry, sent a plague and a sea monster to destroy the city. After being advised by an oracle, Laomedon planned on sacrificing his daughter Hesione to the sea monster. Heracles, on his way back from the land of the Amazons, told him he would save her, if he were given the horses Zeus had previously offered after the kidnapping of Ganymede. Laomedon agreed and Heracles killed the monster. The king did not keep his promise again, and Heracles punished him by killing all of his sons, except Podarces, who was taken with Hesione to Greece.

See Also: Tros, Podarces, Priam, Hesione, Ganymede, Zeus, Apollo, Poseidon, Heracles

Laomedon Q&A

Who was Laomedon?

Laomedon was a king of Troy in Greek mythology, son of Ilus and grandson of Tros. He was the father of a number of children, including Podarces, who was later better known as Priam, and Hesione.

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