Priamos (English spelling)

In Greek mythology, he was the king at the time of the fall of Troy. His other name was Podarces. Because his father Laomedon did not keep his promise, Heracles captured Troy and only he, who was a child among his brothers, was taken prisoner, while the rest were killed. He later became king of Troy and had children such as Hector and Paris from many wives and concubines, including Hecuba. In Homer's epic poem, the Iliad, he is portrayed as a gentle and tolerant old king despite his advanced age, secretly going to Achilles' camp at night to take Hector's corpse and protecting Helen, who was the target of his hatred. Having to watch his sons being killed one by one and his homeland being destroyed, when Troy fell, he clung to the statue of Zeus in the palace and begged for his life, but was killed by Achilles' son Neoptolemus. His name is not of Greek origin, but is probably a character derived from older Oriental legends.

[Teruo Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ギリシア神話でトロヤ滅亡のときの王。別名をポダルケスという。父ラオメドンが約束を守らなかったために、ヘラクレスにトロヤを攻略され、兄弟のうち幼少だった彼だけが捕虜にされて、ほかはみな殺されたという。のちにトロヤ王となり、ヘカベをはじめとする多くの妻妾(さいしょう)からヘクトル、パリスなどの子をもうけた。ホメロスの叙事詩『イリアス』では、高齢ながらも温厚で寛容のある老王として描かれ、夜間ひそかにアキレウスの陣屋へ行ってヘクトルの死骸(しがい)をもらい受けようとしたり、怨嗟(えんさ)の的のヘレネをかばってやる。息子たちが次々と討たれて祖国が滅亡していくのを見なければならなかった彼は、トロヤ陥落のとき、宮殿の中のゼウス像にすがって命ごいをするが、アキレウスの子ネオプトレモスに殺される。彼の名はギリシア語系ではなく、おそらく古いオリエント系の伝説から生まれた人物であろう。

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