Mnemosyne — Classical Greek Myth Library

After his release from Omphale, Heracles collected allies and sailed against Troy to punish Laomedon’s broken promise of the divine mares. Among his companions were Telamon son of Aeacus and Oicles. When they reached the Troad, Oicles was left to guard the ships; Laomedon’s forces attacked the beached fleet and killed him. Heracles and the rest pressed the city. Telamon was first over the wall. Heracles, jealous at being forestalled, drew sword on him; Telamon piled stones as if beginning an altar to Heracles the Victor, and the hero, appeased by the honor, let the quarrel drop. They took the city. Heracles shot Laomedon and all his sons except Podarces. Hesione, given the right to redeem one captive from among the prisoners, chose her brother Podarces and bought him with her veil; thereafter he was called Priam, “the redeemed.” Heracles gave Hesione to Telamon as the prize of valor; she bore him Teucer. Heracles then sailed home, the perjury of Laomedon finally paid in blood and the earlier rescue of Hesione closed by the gift of the princess to his Aeacid ally. Homer’s *Iliad* remembers this sack as the elder capture of Troy—distinct from the later war of Agamemnon—and traces Ajax’s pride to Telamon’s share in it. Entry 025 narrates only the monster, the cheated bargain, and the threat; this entry is the war that followed.