Priam

Priam is son of Laomedon and husband of Hecuba. Priam is king of Troy at the time of the Achaean expedition against the city. In Iliad, Homer has portrayed him as a kindly older gentleman, courteous to everyone and trying to do his best despite his age and weakened condition. Priam’s treatment towards Helen is very compassionate, although he has fully right to despise her for what she had brought upon him and his city. He treats Helen like his favorite daughter and refuses to let others maltreat her, at least in his presence. Homer has presented something very tragic about Priam’s character. Priam mourns for his dead children, especially Hector, the greatest and best-loved of all. He never seems to surrender his dignity, even when he is in the most heart-tearing situation where, in order to recover Hector’s body, he is a guest in the home of the man who killed his son. Priam knows, or at least suspects, the upcoming fall of his city to the Achaeans. In the end, Priam is killed by Achilles’ son, Neoptolemus during the sack of Troy.