Polites (prince of Troy)

This article is about the Trojan prince. For the Greek friend of Odysseus, see Polites (friend of Odysseus).
Death of Priam after the death of Polites.

Polites (Ancient Greek: Πολίτης) was the legitimate son of Priam and Hecuba. He was a prince of Troy, and brother of 49 other children, including 12 daughters. He was killed by Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, who then killed his father.

Early life

Polites was born to Priam, King of Troy, and Hecuba, his wife. He lived in Troy during his youth, was crowned prince of Troy, and was styled his royal Majesty. During his youth, Polites witnessed the Trojan War and was a supporting character in the Iliad.[1]

Death in the Trojan War

During the passage of the Trojan Horse in the Trojan War, Polites was one of those who accepted the gift. During the fall of Troy and the attempted escape to Latium, Neoptolemus shot an arrow in Polites' leg. Polites fell, escaping Neoptolemus, who pursued Polites to his father's palace. Priam called on the gods to punish Neoptolemus, but in that scene, Priam was also killed by Neoptolemus.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 Homer, Iliad, Book II, verse 791; Book XIII, verse 533
  2. ↑ Virgil. Aeneid, II.
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