Priam

Priam is a figure in Greek mythology known as the legendary king of Troy during the Trojan War. He is described as the long-reigning ruler, husband to Hecuba, and father to many children, among them Hector, Cassandra, Troilus, and Polydorus. Priam’s name is associated with the aristocratic and religious traditions of Troy, and he appears in a number of Homeric and later sources as the city's patriarch during a period of great crisis.

In myth, Priam’s reign places Troy among the major powers of the Aegean world. He is depicted as a traditional and devout king who seeks to protect his city and its people, even as external pressures and internal strife build toward war. During the siege, Priam is shown attempting to negotiate with the Greek leaders and to maintain alliances, reflecting the burdens of kingship in a beleaguered city.

A well-known episode from the war depicts Priam personally visiting the Greek camp to plead for the return of Hector’s body after Hector is slain by Achilles. This moment, often highlighted as an act of paternal devotion, contrasts with the surrounding violence and underscored the human cost of the conflict. Throughout the narrative, Priam is portrayed as a figure of authority who must navigate the dangers of war, loyalty to family, and the fate of his city.

After the Greeks breach Troy, Priam is killed during the sack of the city, traditionally at the altar of Zeus or in the tumult that follows. His death marks the demise of Troy’s royal line in most accounts. The fall of Priam is commonly viewed as the concluding tragedy of Troy, with later traditions tracing the surviving legends of Trojans to new lineages and, in Roman myth, to descendants who eventually shape later histories.