Scene from the Trojan War: Cassandra clings to the Palladium, the wooden cult image of Athene, while Ajax the Lesser is about to drag her away in front of her father Priam (standing on the left).
Most scholars take the etymology of the name from the Luwian 𒉺𒊑𒀀𒈬𒀀 (Pa-ri-a-mu-a-, or “exceptionally courageous”),[2][3] 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.[4] Some have identified Priam with the historical figure of Piyama-Radu, a warlord active in the vicinity of Wilusa.[5] However, this identification is disputed, and is highly unlikely, given that he was known in Hittite records as being an ally of the Ahhiyawa against Wilusa.
A popular folk etymology derives the name from the Greek verb priamai, meaning 'to buy'. This in turn gives rise to a story of Priam's sister Hesione ransoming his freedom, with a golden veil that Aphrodite herself once owned, from Heracles, thereby 'buying' him.[6] This story is attested in the Bibliotheca and in other influential mythographical works dated to the first and second centuries AD.[7] These sources are, however, dated much later than the first attestations of the name Priamos or Pariya-muwas, and thus are more problematic.[citation needed]
DescriptionEdit
Priam was described by the chronicler Malalas in his account of the Chronography as " tall for the age, big, good, ruddy-colored, light-eyed, long-nosed, eyebrows meeting, keen-eyed, gray, restrained".[8] Meanwhile, in the account of Dares the Phrygian, he was illustrated as ". . .had a handsome face and a pleasant voice. He was large and swarthy".[9]
Priam is said to have fathered fifty sons and many daughters, with his chief wife Hecuba, daughter of the Phrygian king Dymas and many other wives and concubines. These children include famous mythological figures such as Hector, Paris, Helenus, Cassandra, Deiphobus, Troilus, Laodice, Polyxena, Creusa, and Polydorus. Priam was killed when he was around 80 years old by Achilles' son Neoptolemus.
Priam killed by Neoptolemus, detail of an Attic black-figure amphora, ca. 520–510 BC
When Hector is killed by Achilles, the Greek warrior treats the body with disrespect and refuses to give it back. According to Homer in book XXIV of the Iliad, Zeus sends the god Hermes to escort King Priam, Hector's 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 Hector's 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."[10] Deeply moved, Achilles relents and returns Hector's 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 at least nine days, but on the twelfth day of peace, the Greeks would all stand once more and the mighty war would continue.
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. Priam's death is alternatively depicted in some Greek vases. In this version, Neoptolemus clubs Priam to death with the corpse of the latter's baby grandson, Astyanax.[11]
It has been suggested by Hittite sources, specifically the Manapa-Tarhunta letter, that there is historical basis for the archetype of King Priam. The letter describes one Piyama-Radu as a troublesome rebel who overthrew a Hittiteclient 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 Alexander (King Priam's son from the Iliad), a later ruler of the city of Wilusa who established peace between Wilusa and Hatti (see the Alaksandu treaty).
^Frank Starke, “Troia im Kontext des historisch-politischen und sprachlichen Umfeldes Kleinasiens im 2. Jahrtausend”, Studia Troica 7 (1997), 458, n. 114, referring to the author's previous work, Untersuchungen zur Stammbildung des keilschrift-luwischen Nomens (1990), 455, n. 1645: “Priya-muwa- ‘der hervorragenden, vortrefflichen Mut hat’”.
^Haas, Die hethitische Literatur: Texte, Stilistik, Motive (2006), 5.
^Calvert Watkins, "The Language of the Trojans", Troy and the Trojan War: A Symposium Held at Bryn Mawr College, October 1984, ed. Machteld Johanna Mellink (Bryn Mawr, Penn: Bryn Mawr Commentaries, 1986), 57, citing L. Zgusta, Kleinasiatische Personennamen (Prague 1964), 417:1203-1 and Anatolische Personennamensippen I (Prague 1964), 157.
^S.P. Morris, "A Tale of Two Cities", American Journal of Archaeology 93 (1989), p. 532.
^Jenny March, The Penguin Book of Classical Myths (London: Penguin Books, 2008), p. 300
Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
Homer, The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. ISBN978-0674995796. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
Homer, Homeri Opera in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920. ISBN978-0198145318. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
priam, redirects, here, other, uses, disambiguation, greek, mythology, greek, Πρίαμος, pronounced, prí, amos, legendary, last, king, troy, during, trojan, laomedon, many, children, included, notable, characters, such, hector, paris, cassandra, last, king, troy. Priamus redirects here For other uses see Priam disambiguation In Greek mythology Priam ˈ p r aɪ e m Greek Priamos pronounced pri amos was the legendary and last 1 king of Troy during the Trojan War He was the son of Laomedon His many children included notable characters such as Hector Paris and Cassandra Priam Last King of TroyKing of TroyScene from the Trojan War Cassandra clings to the Palladium the wooden cult image of Athene while Ajax the Lesser is about to drag her away in front of her father Priam standing on the left PredecessorLaomedonPersonal informationParentsLaomedon and Placia or Strymo or Rhoeo or Zeuxippe or LeucippeSiblingsTithonus Lampus Hicetaon Clytius Hesione Cilla Astyoche Proclia Aethilla Medesicaste and ClytodoraConsort 1 Hecuba 2 Castianeira 3 Laothoe 4 Alexirrhoe or Arisbe 5 unknown Offspring 1 Hector Paris Cassandra Helenus Deiphobus Troilus Laodice Polyxena Creusa Polydorus Polites Antiphus Pammon Hipponous and Iliona 2 Gorgythion 3 Lycaon 4 Aesacus 5 others Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Marriage and children 4 Life 5 Gallery 6 Family tree 7 Cultural depiction 8 See also 9 Notes 10 ReferencesEtymology EditMost scholars take the etymology of the name from the Luwian 𒉺𒊑𒀀𒈬𒀀 Pa ri a mu a or exceptionally courageous 2 3 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 4 Some have identified Priam with the historical figure of Piyama Radu a warlord active in the vicinity of Wilusa 5 However this identification is disputed and is highly unlikely given that he was known in Hittite records as being an ally of the Ahhiyawa against Wilusa A popular folk etymology derives the name from the Greek verb priamai meaning to buy This in turn gives rise to a story of Priam s sister Hesione ransoming his freedom with a golden veil that Aphrodite herself once owned from Heracles thereby buying him 6 This story is attested in the Bibliotheca and in other influential mythographical works dated to the first and second centuries AD 7 These sources are however dated much later than the first attestations of the name Priamos or Pariya muwas and thus are more problematic citation needed Description EditPriam was described by the chronicler Malalas in his account of the Chronography as tall for the age big good ruddy colored light eyed long nosed eyebrows meeting keen eyed gray restrained 8 Meanwhile in the account of Dares the Phrygian he was illustrated as had a handsome face and a pleasant voice He was large and swarthy 9 Marriage and children EditSee List of children of PriamPriam is said to have fathered fifty sons and many daughters with his chief wife Hecuba daughter of the Phrygian king Dymas and many other wives and concubines These children include famous mythological figures such as Hector Paris Helenus Cassandra Deiphobus Troilus Laodice Polyxena Creusa and Polydorus Priam was killed when he was around 80 years old by Achilles son Neoptolemus nbsp Priam killed by Neoptolemus detail of an Attic black figure amphora ca 520 510 BCLife EditIn Book 3 of Homer s Iliad Priam tells Helen of Troy that he once helped King Mygdon of Phrygia in a battle against the Amazons When Hector is killed by Achilles the Greek warrior treats the body with disrespect and refuses to give it back According to Homer in book XXIV of the Iliad Zeus sends the god Hermes to escort King Priam Hector s 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 Hector s 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 10 Deeply moved Achilles relents and returns Hector s 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 at least nine days but on the twelfth day of peace the Greeks would all stand once more and the mighty war would continue 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 Priam s death is alternatively depicted in some Greek vases In this version Neoptolemus clubs Priam to death with the corpse of the latter s baby grandson Astyanax 11 It has been suggested by Hittite sources specifically the Manapa Tarhunta letter that there is historical basis for the archetype of King Priam The 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 Alexander King Priam s son from the Iliad a later ruler of the city of Wilusa who established peace between Wilusa and Hatti see the Alaksandu treaty Gallery Edit nbsp The Death of Priam by Johann Andreas Herrlein nbsp The Death of Priam by Vincenzo Camuccini nbsp Priam Pleading with Achilles for the Body of Hector by Gavin Hamilton 1775 nbsp Priam asks Achilles to return Hector s body by Alexander Ivanov nbsp Priam at the feet of Achilles by Jerome Martin Langlois nbsp Priam at the feet of Achilles by Eugene Carriere 1876 nbsp The Death of Priamos by Jules Lefebvre nbsp The Death of Priam by Pierre Narcisse Guerin nbsp The Death of Priam by Jean Baptiste Regnault nbsp Priam holding the golden urn with the remains of Hector by Giovanni Maria Benzoni nbsp Priam Ransoming Hector s Body by Giovanni Maria Benzoni nbsp Priam Supplicating Achilles for the Body of Hector by Giuseppe Girometti nbsp Helen and Priam at the Scaen Gate by Richard Cook nbsp Priam at the feet of Achilles by Joseph Wencker nbsp Priam demandant a Achille le corps d Hector by Theobald Chartran nbsp The Death of Priam by Francois Marie Firmin Girard 1861 nbsp The Death of Priam by Alexandre Louis Leloir 1861 nbsp Priam Begs the Body of Hector by Henry Fuseli nbsp The Sack of Troy Pyrrhus Killing Priam by Franz Cleyn nbsp Achilles and Priam in conversation outside of Troy by Lucas Vorsterman IIFamily tree EditvteTrojan raceOceanusTethysAtlasPleioneScamanderIdaeaSimoeisZeus JupiterElectraTeucerDardanusBateaIlusErichthoniusAstyocheCallirrhoeTrosIlusGanymedeAssaracusHieromnemeLaomedonThemisteCapysPriamAnchisesAphrodite VenusLatinusCreusa of TroyAeneasLaviniaAscaniusSilviusAeneas SilviusLatinus SilviusAlbaAtysCapysCapetusTiberinus SilviusAgrippaRomulus SilviusAventinusProcasNumitorAmuliusAres MarsRhea Silvia IliaHersiliaRomulusRemusCultural depiction EditIn film Helen of Troy film played by Cedric Hardwicke The Trojan Horse film played by Carlo Tamberlani Troy film played by Peter O Toole Troy Fall of a City played by David Threlfall In TV series Helen of Troy played by John Rhys Davies In theaterLes Troyens in which King Priam plays a minor role King Priam See also Edit nbsp Ancient Greece portal nbsp Myths portalPriam s TreasureNotes Edit Priam Myth Significance amp Trojan War Britannica www britannica com Retrieved 2022 03 30 Frank Starke Troia im Kontext des historisch politischen und sprachlichen Umfeldes Kleinasiens im 2 Jahrtausend Studia Troica 7 1997 458 n 114 referring to the author s previous work Untersuchungen zur Stammbildung des keilschrift luwischen Nomens 1990 455 n 1645 Priya muwa der hervorragenden vortrefflichen Mut hat Haas Die hethitische Literatur Texte Stilistik Motive 2006 5 Calvert Watkins The Language of the Trojans Troy and the Trojan War A Symposium Held at Bryn Mawr College October 1984 ed Machteld Johanna Mellink Bryn Mawr Penn Bryn Mawr Commentaries 1986 57 citing L Zgusta Kleinasiatische Personennamen Prague 1964 417 1203 1 and Anatolische Personennamensippen I Prague 1964 157 S P Morris A Tale of Two Cities American Journal of Archaeology 93 1989 p 532 Jenny March The Penguin Book of Classical Myths London Penguin Books 2008 p 300 Apollodorus 2 6 f n 15 Malalas Chronography 5 105 Dares Phrygius History of the Fall of Troy 12 The Iliad Fagles translation Penguin Books 1991 p 605 Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae II 2 684 85References EditApollodorus The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer F B A F R S in 2 Volumes Cambridge MA Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1921 ISBN 0 674 99135 4 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library Greek text available from the same website Homer The Iliad with an English Translation by A T Murray Ph D in two volumes Cambridge MA Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1924 ISBN 978 0674995796 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library Homer Homeri Opera in five volumes Oxford Oxford University Press 1920 ISBN 978 0198145318 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library Smith William Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology London 1873 Priamus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Priam amp oldid 1166830535, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
