Lamedon (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Lamedon (Λαμέδων) was a king of Troy. He was the son of Ilus, the founder of the city, and Eurydice (daughter of Adrastus) or Leucippe. He was the father of Priam (born as Podarces), Hesione, Clytius, Hicetaon, Lampus, and Procles. Some accounts also list Cilla and Astyoche as his daughters.

Lamedon is primarily known for his broken promises to the gods Apollo and Poseidon. When Ilus was building the walls of Troy, Apollo and Poseidon, either by command of Zeus or on their own volition, offered to help him. Lamedon promised them generous payment in return for their services. Apollo built the walls of Troy, rendering them impregnable, while Poseidon created the surrounding waterways.

Once the work was completed, Lamedon refused to pay the gods the agreed-upon wages. Enraged, Poseidon sent a sea monster to ravage the Trojan plain, and Apollo inflicted a plague upon the city.

To appease the gods and end the plague, Lamedon was instructed by an oracle to sacrifice his daughter Hesione to the sea monster. Heracles, along with Telamon and other heroes, arrived in Troy. He offered to slay the monster and rescue Hesione in exchange for the mares given to Tros by Zeus as compensation for the abduction of Ganymede, or in some versions, for other horses. Lamedon agreed, but after Heracles killed the monster and rescued Hesione, Lamedon once again broke his promise and refused to hand over the horses.

In retribution, Heracles sailed back to Troy with an army after completing his labors. He captured the city, killed Lamedon and all his sons except Priam (who was spared because he advised against Lamedon's treachery), and gave Hesione to Telamon as a war prize. Priam then became the king of Troy, marking the beginning of the generation that would fall victim to the Trojan War. The story of Lamedon serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of keeping promises, especially to the gods.