Polydorus

Polydorus is a figure appearing in Greek mythology, most notably as a son of Priam and Hecuba, the king and queen of Troy. He is often depicted as a young boy at the time of the Trojan War.

According to some accounts, to protect him from the Greeks and the dangers of the war, Priam entrusted Polydorus to his sister, Queen Polymestor of Thrace, along with a substantial amount of gold and jewels. However, after the fall of Troy, Polymestor, motivated by greed, murdered Polydorus and stole his treasure.

This act of betrayal is a significant element in the story of Hecuba. When Hecuba, who had been enslaved and taken to Thrace, discovered the fate of her son, she sought revenge. In Euripides' play "Hecuba," she masterfully tricks Polymestor into coming to her, whereupon she and the enslaved Trojan women blind him and kill his children.

The myth of Polydorus serves to highlight the brutal consequences of war, the betrayal of trust, and the fierce maternal instinct for revenge. His story is a tragic footnote in the epic narrative of the Trojan War, emphasizing the suffering of the Trojan royal family.