Guandao
Rajah of Minyue and Langkasuka
And Priam's, Hero's, and Pergamos' entries
Spoiler :
Priam
History
In Homers Iliad, Priam is the name of the King of Troy. He was the father of Hector and numerous other children. His most notable role in the Iliad is pleading with his sons killer, Achilles, for being allowed to take his body back for a funeral.
Name and Possible Origins
Modern scholars derive Priams name from the Luwian name Pariya-muwas, which meant exceptionally courageous and was attested as the name of a man from Zazlippa, in Kizzuwatna. A similar form is attested transcribed in Greek as Paramoas near Kaisareia in Cappadocia. Notable is also Piyama-Radu, a warlike man whose name figures prominently in the Hittite archives, possibly bearing a related name. The Manapa-Tarhunta letter describes one Piyama-Radu as a troublesome rebel who overthrew a Hittite client king and thereafter established his own rule over the city of Troy (mentioned as Wilusa in Hittite). There is also mention of an Alaksandu, suggested to be Paris Alexander (King Priam's son from the Iliad), a later ruler of the city of Wilusa who established peace between Wilusa and Hatti.
Priam was originally called Podarces and he kept himself from being killed by Heracles by giving him a golden veil embroidered by his sister, Hesione. After this, Podarces changed his name to Priam. This is a folk etymology based on priatos, "ransomed" from priasthai, "to buy."
Role in the Iliad
When Priams son, Hector, is killed by Achilles, the Greek warrior treats the body with disrespect and refuses to give it back. Zeus sends the god Hermes to escort King Priam, Hectors father and the ruler of Troy, into the Greek camp. Priam tearfully pleads with Achilles to take pity on a father bereft of his son and return Hectors body. He invokes the memory of Achilles own father, Peleus. Priam begs Achilles to pity him, saying "I have endured what no one on earth has ever done before I put my lips to the hands of the man who killed my son." Deeply moved, Achilles relents and returns Hectors corpse to the Trojans. Both sides agree to a temporary truce, and Achilles gives Priam leave to hold a proper funeral for Hector, complete with funeral games. He promises that no Greek will engage in combat for nine days, but on the twelfth day of peace, the mighty war between the Greeks and the Trojans would resume. Priam is killed during the Sack of Troy by Achilles' son Neoptolemus (also known as Pyrrhus). His death is graphically related in Book II of Virgil's Aeneid. In Virgil's description, Neoptolemus first kills Priam's son Polites in front of his father as he seeks sanctuary on the altar of Zeus. Priam rebukes Neoptolemus, throwing a spear at him, harmlessly hitting his shield. Neoptolemus then drags Priam to the altar and there kills him too.
Marriage and Issue
Priam had many wives; his first was Arisbe, who had given birth to his son Aesacus, who met his death before the Trojan War. Priam later divorced her in favor of Hecuba (or Hecebe), daughter of the Phrygian king Dymas. By his various wives and concubines Priam was the father of fifty sons and many daughters. Hector was Priam's eldest son by Hecuba, and heir to the Trojan throne. Paris (also known as Alexander), another son, was the cause of the Trojan War. Other children of Priam and Hecuba include the prophetic Helenus and Cassandra; eldest daughter Ilione; Deiphobus; Troilus; Polites; Creusa, wife of Aeneas; Laodice, wife of Helicaon; Polyxena, who was slaughtered on the grave of Achilles; and Polydorus, his youngest son.
Judgment in History
It is difficult to judge someone who may or may not existed, at least in the form in Homers Iliad. Possibly, a real life ruler of Wilusa (Troy) was the inspiration for Homers Priam. If so, he was prominent or notable enough to be transformed into a legendary figure in ancient Greek storytelling, likely due to his dealings or conflict with the ancient Mycenaean Greeks.
History
In Homers Iliad, Priam is the name of the King of Troy. He was the father of Hector and numerous other children. His most notable role in the Iliad is pleading with his sons killer, Achilles, for being allowed to take his body back for a funeral.
Name and Possible Origins
Modern scholars derive Priams name from the Luwian name Pariya-muwas, which meant exceptionally courageous and was attested as the name of a man from Zazlippa, in Kizzuwatna. A similar form is attested transcribed in Greek as Paramoas near Kaisareia in Cappadocia. Notable is also Piyama-Radu, a warlike man whose name figures prominently in the Hittite archives, possibly bearing a related name. The Manapa-Tarhunta letter describes one Piyama-Radu as a troublesome rebel who overthrew a Hittite client king and thereafter established his own rule over the city of Troy (mentioned as Wilusa in Hittite). There is also mention of an Alaksandu, suggested to be Paris Alexander (King Priam's son from the Iliad), a later ruler of the city of Wilusa who established peace between Wilusa and Hatti.
Priam was originally called Podarces and he kept himself from being killed by Heracles by giving him a golden veil embroidered by his sister, Hesione. After this, Podarces changed his name to Priam. This is a folk etymology based on priatos, "ransomed" from priasthai, "to buy."
Role in the Iliad
When Priams son, Hector, is killed by Achilles, the Greek warrior treats the body with disrespect and refuses to give it back. Zeus sends the god Hermes to escort King Priam, Hectors father and the ruler of Troy, into the Greek camp. Priam tearfully pleads with Achilles to take pity on a father bereft of his son and return Hectors body. He invokes the memory of Achilles own father, Peleus. Priam begs Achilles to pity him, saying "I have endured what no one on earth has ever done before I put my lips to the hands of the man who killed my son." Deeply moved, Achilles relents and returns Hectors corpse to the Trojans. Both sides agree to a temporary truce, and Achilles gives Priam leave to hold a proper funeral for Hector, complete with funeral games. He promises that no Greek will engage in combat for nine days, but on the twelfth day of peace, the mighty war between the Greeks and the Trojans would resume. Priam is killed during the Sack of Troy by Achilles' son Neoptolemus (also known as Pyrrhus). His death is graphically related in Book II of Virgil's Aeneid. In Virgil's description, Neoptolemus first kills Priam's son Polites in front of his father as he seeks sanctuary on the altar of Zeus. Priam rebukes Neoptolemus, throwing a spear at him, harmlessly hitting his shield. Neoptolemus then drags Priam to the altar and there kills him too.
Marriage and Issue
Priam had many wives; his first was Arisbe, who had given birth to his son Aesacus, who met his death before the Trojan War. Priam later divorced her in favor of Hecuba (or Hecebe), daughter of the Phrygian king Dymas. By his various wives and concubines Priam was the father of fifty sons and many daughters. Hector was Priam's eldest son by Hecuba, and heir to the Trojan throne. Paris (also known as Alexander), another son, was the cause of the Trojan War. Other children of Priam and Hecuba include the prophetic Helenus and Cassandra; eldest daughter Ilione; Deiphobus; Troilus; Polites; Creusa, wife of Aeneas; Laodice, wife of Helicaon; Polyxena, who was slaughtered on the grave of Achilles; and Polydorus, his youngest son.
Judgment in History
It is difficult to judge someone who may or may not existed, at least in the form in Homers Iliad. Possibly, a real life ruler of Wilusa (Troy) was the inspiration for Homers Priam. If so, he was prominent or notable enough to be transformed into a legendary figure in ancient Greek storytelling, likely due to his dealings or conflict with the ancient Mycenaean Greeks.
Spoiler :
Hero (Great General)
In Homers Iliad, there are numerous heroes described. On the Greek side, the most prominent hero is Achilles, whose heel is famous for being responsible for his death. On the Trojan side, there is Hector, the first-born son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, and the greatest fighter for Troy during the Trojan War. He was wedded to Andromache, with whom he had an infant son, Scamandrius. Hector functioned as the leader of the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy. In the Middle Ages, Hector figures as one of the Nine Worthies noted by Jacques de Longuyon, known not only for his courage but also for his noble and courtly nature. Indeed, Homer places Hector as peace-loving, thoughtful as well as bold, a good son, husband and father, and without darker motives. James Redfield writes of Hector as a "martyr to loyalties, a witness to the things of this world, a hero ready to die for the precious imperfections of ordinary life." In the Iliad, Hector fights Ajax to a stalemate for the entire day, each expressing admiration for the others courage, skill, and strength. After killing Patroclus, Achilles closest companion, Hector earns the wrath of the Greek hero, leading to his demise. For the next twelve days, Achilles mistreats the body, but it remains preserved from all injury by Apollo and Aphrodite. After these twelve days, the gods can no longer stand watching it and send down two messengers: Iris, another messenger god, and Thetis, the mother of Achilles. Thetis has told Achilles to allow King Priam to come and take the body for ransom. Once King Priam has been notified that Achilles will allow him to claim the body, he goes to his strongroom to withdraw the ransom. Priam himself goes to claim his son's body, and Hermes grants him safe passage by casting a charm that will make anyone who looks at him fall asleep. Achilles, moved by Priam's actions and following his mother's orders sent by Zeus, returns Hector's body to Priam and promises him a truce of twelve days to allow the Trojans to perform funeral rites for Hector. Priam returns to Troy with the body of his son, and it is given full funeral honors. Even Helen mourns Hector, for he had always been kind to her and protected her from spite. The last lines of the Iliad are dedicated to Hector's funeral. Homer concludes by referring to the Trojan prince as the "Breaker of Horses."
In Homers Iliad, there are numerous heroes described. On the Greek side, the most prominent hero is Achilles, whose heel is famous for being responsible for his death. On the Trojan side, there is Hector, the first-born son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, and the greatest fighter for Troy during the Trojan War. He was wedded to Andromache, with whom he had an infant son, Scamandrius. Hector functioned as the leader of the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy. In the Middle Ages, Hector figures as one of the Nine Worthies noted by Jacques de Longuyon, known not only for his courage but also for his noble and courtly nature. Indeed, Homer places Hector as peace-loving, thoughtful as well as bold, a good son, husband and father, and without darker motives. James Redfield writes of Hector as a "martyr to loyalties, a witness to the things of this world, a hero ready to die for the precious imperfections of ordinary life." In the Iliad, Hector fights Ajax to a stalemate for the entire day, each expressing admiration for the others courage, skill, and strength. After killing Patroclus, Achilles closest companion, Hector earns the wrath of the Greek hero, leading to his demise. For the next twelve days, Achilles mistreats the body, but it remains preserved from all injury by Apollo and Aphrodite. After these twelve days, the gods can no longer stand watching it and send down two messengers: Iris, another messenger god, and Thetis, the mother of Achilles. Thetis has told Achilles to allow King Priam to come and take the body for ransom. Once King Priam has been notified that Achilles will allow him to claim the body, he goes to his strongroom to withdraw the ransom. Priam himself goes to claim his son's body, and Hermes grants him safe passage by casting a charm that will make anyone who looks at him fall asleep. Achilles, moved by Priam's actions and following his mother's orders sent by Zeus, returns Hector's body to Priam and promises him a truce of twelve days to allow the Trojans to perform funeral rites for Hector. Priam returns to Troy with the body of his son, and it is given full funeral honors. Even Helen mourns Hector, for he had always been kind to her and protected her from spite. The last lines of the Iliad are dedicated to Hector's funeral. Homer concludes by referring to the Trojan prince as the "Breaker of Horses."
Spoiler :
Pergamus (Walls)
The Pergamus (or Pergamos) is the name of the citadel of Troy in Homers Iliad. Not only the sanctuaries of Athena and Apollo were situated on the Pergamus but also Priam's palace with its colonnades and 50 rooms with polished stones. The citadel also housed the Palladion, a wooden image of Pallas (identified by the Greeks as Athena), said to have fallen from heaven in answer to the prayer of Ilus, the founder of Troy. During the Trojan War, the besieging Greeks discovered that they would be unable to take the city while it was protected by it, and so Odysseus and Diomedes stole from the citadel of Troy before taking the city by the ruse of the Trojan Horse. According to a later set of myths it was then taken to Rome, where an actual image, unlikely to have been actually of Trojan origin, was kept in the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum for centuries, and regarded as one of the pignora imperii, sacred tokens or pledges of Roman rule (imperium).
The Pergamus (or Pergamos) is the name of the citadel of Troy in Homers Iliad. Not only the sanctuaries of Athena and Apollo were situated on the Pergamus but also Priam's palace with its colonnades and 50 rooms with polished stones. The citadel also housed the Palladion, a wooden image of Pallas (identified by the Greeks as Athena), said to have fallen from heaven in answer to the prayer of Ilus, the founder of Troy. During the Trojan War, the besieging Greeks discovered that they would be unable to take the city while it was protected by it, and so Odysseus and Diomedes stole from the citadel of Troy before taking the city by the ruse of the Trojan Horse. According to a later set of myths it was then taken to Rome, where an actual image, unlikely to have been actually of Trojan origin, was kept in the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum for centuries, and regarded as one of the pignora imperii, sacred tokens or pledges of Roman rule (imperium).