POLYDORUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Polydorus in Greek Mythology
Polydorus is a prince of Troy in Greek mythology. A son of King Priam and Hecabe, it is commonly said that Polydorus was killed by the man who was supposed to protect him, Polymestor.
Polydorus Son of King Priam
Polydorus is said to have been the youngest son of King Priam of Troy and his wife Hecabe. As King Priam had as many as 50 sons and 18 daughters, Polydorus would have had many siblings and half-siblings, but amongst the most famous of these siblings were the likes of Hector, Cassandra and Paris.
Some though, call Polydorus son of Priam and Laotoe, rather than Hecabe.
Some though, call Polydorus son of Priam and Laotoe, rather than Hecabe.
Polydorus and Iliona
It was Polydorus’ brother Paris who brought destruction to the city of Troy when the Achaean armada came to retrieve Helen, the wife of Menelaus, taken by Paris.
As the forces of Agamemnon gathered outside of Troy, Priam and Hecabe decided to send Polydorus away from the city to safety in Thracian Chersonesus; for there, ruled Polymestor a friend of Priam, and also a son-in-law, for Polymestor had married Iliona, a daughter of Priam. |
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Thus, Polydorus, along with a quantity of Trojan treasure were sent for safekeeping to the court of Polymestor. Iliona was said to have Polydorus as if he were own son, raising him alongside Deipylus, who indeed was her own son.
The Death of PolydorusThe war would go badly for Troy, and when news arrived in Thracian Chersonesus of the fall of Troy, Polymestor decided to change allegiance, and to ingratiate himself with the Achaeans, and to gain the Trojan treasure, Polymestor killed Polydorus.
The killing of Polydorus would have been sufficient to bring down the Erinyes, the Furies, upon Polymestor, for killing a guest, and someone given over to safekeeping, were crimes of the highest order in Ancient Greece. |
But before the Erinyes got involved, Polydorus’ mother Hecabe had her revenge; for the body of Polydorus had washed up near the Achaean camp at Troy, Hecabe now knew of the treachery of Polymestor.
Hecabe was now a prisoner of the Achaeans, but with the agreement of Agamemnon, Polymestor was lured to the Acheaen camp, with promises of more Trojan treasure. Once in Hecabe’s tent though, Polymestor was blinded with the brooches of Hecabe and other Trojan Women.
Hecabe was now a prisoner of the Achaeans, but with the agreement of Agamemnon, Polymestor was lured to the Acheaen camp, with promises of more Trojan treasure. Once in Hecabe’s tent though, Polymestor was blinded with the brooches of Hecabe and other Trojan Women.
Alternative Tales of the Death of Polydorus
The death of Polydorus at the hands of Polymestor is the most commonly told tale of Polydorus, but other Greek mythological tales have differing ends for the son of King Priam.
Homer, in the Iliad, tells of Polydorus dying by the spear of Achilles, the war having gone on for so long that Polydorus was old enough to aid the defence of Troy.
Another story also tells of Polydorus dying outside the walls of Troy. The Achaeans had demanded that Polymestor give up Polydorus to them, and the Thracian king had done just that, with no thought of resistance.
The Achaeans then brought Polydorus to Troy, calling for an exchange, Helen for Polydorus, but the Trojans refused, though not specifically King Priam, and as a result Polydorus was stoned to death outside the city walls.
Homer, in the Iliad, tells of Polydorus dying by the spear of Achilles, the war having gone on for so long that Polydorus was old enough to aid the defence of Troy.
Another story also tells of Polydorus dying outside the walls of Troy. The Achaeans had demanded that Polymestor give up Polydorus to them, and the Thracian king had done just that, with no thought of resistance.
The Achaeans then brought Polydorus to Troy, calling for an exchange, Helen for Polydorus, but the Trojans refused, though not specifically King Priam, and as a result Polydorus was stoned to death outside the city walls.
Or a Tale of Polydorus' Survival
Alternatively, a tale is told of Polydorus living on after the Trojan War.
In this version of the myth of Polydorus, the Achaeans learned of how Polydorus had been secreted into the care of Polymestor, and as the war raged on, emissaries were sent to bribe Polymestor to kill Polydorus. The offer of gold, and the hand in marriage of Electra, daughter of Agamemnon were sufficient to induce Polymestor to murder. Polymestor though would end up killing his own son Deipylus by mistake, for Iliona had raised Deipylus as Polydorus, and Polydorus as Deipylus, so that if anything had happened to either in childhood, a son could always be returned to Priam and Hecabe. Later, Polydorus, now a young man, would travel to Delphi to seek guidance from the Oracle. The proclamation given by the Sibyl though, was a confusing one, for Polydorus was told that his father was dead, and his home city lay in ruins. Polydorus, who believed himself to be Deipylus, rushed home, but saw that his home city was as he had left it, and Polymestor was very much alive. A confused Polydorus now went to his “mother” Iliona to tell of the mistaken proclamation of the Oracle of Delphi. Now though, Iliona now told the truth, and Polydorus came aware that he was not who he thought he had been. |
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More importantly, Polydorus became aware of the treachery of Polymestor, who willingly killed his own guest for money. Polydorus would thus have his own revenge upon Polymestor, for the Thracian king was blinded by Iliona, and then killed by Polydorus.
In this tale, nothing is said of what becomes of Polydorus afterwards, and it is most commonly said that the only son of King Priam to survive the war was Helenus.
In this tale, nothing is said of what becomes of Polydorus afterwards, and it is most commonly said that the only son of King Priam to survive the war was Helenus.
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Colin Quartermain - Polydorus - 22nd December 2017