Paris’s subsequent abduction of Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, led the Greeks to attack Troy. During the Greeks’ 10-year siege of the city, Priam had to endure the loss of all of his sons. Most of them died at the hands of Greek hero Achilles. For example, Priam’s youngest son, Troilus, was killed after Achilles lured him into an ambush at a fountain outside the walls of Troy. In most accounts he was decapitated or otherwise mutilated. Another of Priam’s sons, Lycaon, had the misfortune to encounter Achilles twice. The first time the pair met, Lycaon was in an orchard outside the city, cutting branches from a fig tree to make rails for his chariot. Achilles captured the Trojan prince and ransomed him. The second time the pair met, Achilles showed less mercy. In the intervening period Achilles’ great friend Patroclus had been killed in battle, and his death had filled Achilles with an unquenchable lust for Trojan blood. Lycaon pleaded desperately for his life, but Achilles ignored his protestations and killed him with his sword.
However, Achilles’ greatest anger was reserved for another of Priam’s sons, Hector, who had been personally responsible for the death of Patroclus. The eldest son of Priam and Hecuba, Hector had led the Trojan resistance for nine years before he chose to confront Achilles outside the walls of Troy. Priam desperately tried to persuade his son to withdraw to the safety of the city, but Hector refused.
Priam could only watch as Achilles first killed his son and then tied his corpse to his chariot and dragged it around the city walls. Eventually Priam was forced to go to Achilles’ tent and beg for the return of Hector’s body (see box).
World History
