THE CHILDREN OF PRIAM IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

​King Priam was the last and most famous of all Kings of Tory; a descendant of Dardanus, Priam was placed on the throne of Troy by Heracles, and would remain king until the destruction of the city by the Achaean forces. 

King Priam though is arguably more famous for his own children than for any act or deed during the Trojan War; and indeed the children of King Priam number amongst the most famous individuals of Greek mythology. 

The One Hundred Children of Priam

​It is not surprising that many of the children of King Priam would become famous, for they were numerous in number, as many as 100, and most were adults during the Trojan War. 

The number of 100 children comes from the Homeric tradition which said the King of Troy had 50 sons and an equal number of daughters, although it is difficult to get a definitive list of the names of these children; and other sources tell of perhaps as few as 51 children for Priam. 

The Wives and Lovers of King Priam

​The mothers of the children are not always clear either. It was said that King Priam was married twice, first to Arisbe, the daughter of the seer Merops, and secondly to Hecabe (Hecuba) the daughter of King Dymas. Arisbe though was said to have born Priam only one son (Aesacus) and Hecabe only 14 (or 19) children. 

Priam though was said to have had many concubines and mistresses, including Laothoe, daughter of King Altes, and Castianeira of Aesyme. 

Priam Begging the Body of Hector from Achilles - Alexey Tarasovich Markov (1802–1878) - PD-art-100

Famous Sons of King Priam

• Aesacus (by Arisbe) – noted seer, having learnt from his grandfather Merops, who told of the destruction of Troy when his half-brother Paris was born. Aesacus was transformed into a diving bird before the Trojan War when his wife, Asterope, died. 
• Anitphus – (by Hecabe) – captured by Achilles, but subsequently ransomed, then later killed by Agamemnon’s sword. 
• Deiphobus (by Hecabe) – noted defender of Troy, married to an unhappy Helen after death of Paris, killed by Menelaus during the Sack of Troy. 
• Gorgythion (by Castianeira) – “beautiful” and “blameless” son of Priam, killed by Teucer’s arrow as he stood by his half-brother Hector. 
• Hector – (by Hecabe) – heir to the throne of Troy, and the most prominent of the warriors to defend Troy, acknowledged as the hero the Achaeans would have to overcome to triumph. Hector was the husband of Andromache and father of Astyanax. Killed by Achilles. 
• Helenus – (by Hecabe) – noted seer, twin brother of Cassandra, and though a one-time defender of Troy would leave the city, and subsequently aided the Achaeans. Survived the Trojan War and became a king of Epirus. 
• Hipponous – (by Hecabe) – defender of Troy, and last Trojan killed by Achilles.

• Pammon - (by Hecabe) – defender of Troy. Killed by Neoptolemus. 
• Paris – (by Hecabe) - aka Alexander – prince noted initially for his sound rulings, hence the Judgement of Paris, but then abducted Helen. Killed by Philoctetes.
• Polites - (by Hecabe) – defender of Troy. Killed by Neoptolemus. 
• Polydorus - (by Hecabe) – the youngest son of Priam, given to Polymestor to look after during Trojan War, but treacherously killed by his guardian. 
• Troilus (by Hecabe) – a beautiful youth, potentially a son of Apollo rather than Priam. According to a prophecy, Troilus had to die before adulthood if the Achaeans were to take Troy, and so Achilles ambushed and killed Troilus. ​

Famous Daughters of King Priam

• Cassandra – (by Hecabe) – twin sister of Helenus, and also a seer, but destined never to be believed. Warned Trojans of the Wooden Horse, but ignored. After the war, became concubine of Agamemnon, and subsequently killed by Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. 
• Creusa (by Hecabe) – first wife of Aeneas and mother of Ascanius, died during the Sack of Troy. 
• Iliona (by Hecabe) – oldest daughter and wife of King Polymestor, thus Queen of Thracian Chersonesus and mother of Deipylus. 
• Laodice (by Hecabe) – wife of Helicaon, and most beautiful of all Priam’s daughters; potentially mother of Munitus by Acamas. Died during Sack of Troy when chasm opened up and swallowed her. 
• Polyxena (by Hecabe) – potential cause of Achilles death, if Achilles was killed in ambush, for some tell of Achilles having fallen in love with Polyxena. Polyxena, after fall of Troy, was slaughtered on Achilles grave to allow fair winds for the Achaeans to sail home. 

Cassandra - Evelyn De Morgan (1855–1919) - PD-art-100

Other Children of Priam

• ​Aegeoneus
  
• Agathon
  
• Antinous
  
• Antiphonus – killed by Neoptolemus
  
• Archemachus
  
• Aretus – killed by Automdeon
  
• Aristodeme
  
• Aristomache – wife of Critolaus, daughter-in-law of Hicetaon
  
• Ascanius
  
• Astygonus
  
• Astynomus
  
• Atas
  
• Axion – killed by Eurypylus
  
• Biantes
  
• Bias – father of Laogonous and Dardanus (both killed by Achilles)
  
• Brissonius
  
• Cebriones – charioteer of Hector after Archeptolemus – killed by Patroclus
  
• Chaon 
  
• Chersidamas – killed by Odysseus
  
• Chriodamas
  
• Chromius – killed by Diomedes
  
• Chrysolaus
  
• Clonius
  
• Deiopites- killed by Meges
  
• Demnosia – 
  
• Democoon – killed by Odysseus
  
• Demosthea 
  
• Dius
  
• Dolon
  
• Doryclus – killed by Ajax the Great
  
• Dryops – killed by Achilles
  
• Echemmon – killed by Diomedes
  
• Echerphron
  
• Eresus 
  
• Ethionome
  
• Evagoras
  
• Evander
  
• Glaucus
  
• Henicea
  
• Hero
  
• Hippasus
  
• Hippodamas – killed by Achilles
  
• Hipposidus
  
• Hippothous
  
• Hyperion
  
• Hyperochus
  
• Idomeneus
  
• Ilagus
  
• Isus – bastard son, driver of Antiphus’ chariot, killed by Agamemnon
  
• Laodocus
  
• Lycaon (by Laothoe) – captured by Achilles and sold to King Euneus of Lemnos. Subsequently ransomed, but then captured by Achilles again, and then executed by Achilles. 
  
• Lysianassa 
  
• Lysides
  
• Lysimache
  
• Lysithous
  
• Medesicaste – married to Imbrius, son of Mentor
  
• Medusa
  
• Melanippus – killed by Teucer
  
• Mestor – killed by Achilles
  
• Mylilus
  
• Nereis
  
• Palaemon
  
• Phegea
  
• Philaemon
  
• Philomela
  
• Polymedon
  
• Polymelus
  
• Proneus
  
• Protodamas
  
• Telestas

Contents

Colin Quartermain - Children of Priam - 2nd November 2019