Wednesday 8 July 2015

Laomedon

                               In Greek  mythology, Laomedon was  described  as the king  of Troy  and the son  of Ilus and Eurdice.  Laomedon's son  Ganymede  was kidnapped by Zeus, the king of gods, who had fallen in love with the beautiful boy. Laomedon grived for his son, Zeus send Hermes, the god messenger,  with two magical horses, (the horses could run over water), as compensation. Hermes  also assured Laomedon  that Ganymede  was immortal and would be the cup-bearer for the gods, a position of much distinction. According to other version, Ganymede  was described  as the son of Tros, an early king and grandfather of Laomedon. So Laomedon  was described  as the nephew of Ganymede.
Laomedon with Poseidon and Apollo....

              According  to Greek  legend, Poseidon, the god of sea, and Apollo, the god of music,  revolted against Zeus and were doomed by Zeus to serve king Laomedon  for wage. According  to other version, Poseidon  and Apollo  came to Laomedon  of their own accord, in order to test him. Laomedon  had them built huge walls around the Troy  and was assisted in the building the wall by Aeacus. In other version Poseidon built the walls of Troy, while Apollo  attended to king' flocks on Mt Ida. 

When the two gods had done their work, Laomedon  refused them the reward he had promised them or wage, and expelled them from his kingdom. 
  In vengeance, Poseidon send sea monster  into the territory of Troy , which ravaged the whole country and Apollo  sent a plague. By an oracle advice Laomedon  agreed to sacrifice his daughter  Hesione to Poseidon  in hope of appeasing  him. 
      But it happened that Hercules  was just returning from his expedition against Amazons, along with Oicles and Telamon. Hercules  promised to save Hesione  if Laomedon  would gave him the horses  which Laomedon  had received from Zeus  as a compensation for Ganymede (or Tros had once received from Zeus  as a compensation for Ganymede). 
Hercules......save Hesione....

Laomedon  promised to give them to Hercules but broke his word when Hercules  had killed the monster and saved Hesione. So Hercules sailed with a squadron of six ships against Troy and capture Troy. Hercules  killed Laomedon with all his sons except Podarces (Priam), who saved his own life by giving Hercules a golden veil. In some versions, Tithonus was also described  as Laomedon  son and was said Eos, the goddess of dawn, save life of Podarces and Tithonus. Hercules gave Hesione  to Telamon, as a war prize.
                                           Laomedon  tomb existed in the neighbourhood of the Scaean Gate and it was believed that Troy  would be save so long as the tomb remained uninjured.

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