Hesione

Heracles sailed against Troy with eighteen ships and an army gathered from heroes who had volunteered for the expedition. He had regained his strength after his servitude and the disease that had afflicted him. The expedition fulfilled his promise to avenge Hesione. Earlier, Heracles had rescued her from the sea monster to which her father Laomedon had exposed her, after Laomedon agreed to give him the mares that Zeus had granted as compensation for Ganymedes.

When Heracles reached Troy, he left Oicles to guard the ships and marched against the city with the other heroes. Laomedon led most of his forces against the fleet and killed Oicles, but Heracles’ troops drove him back. The city was then placed under siege. Telamon was the first to break through the wall and enter Troy, with Heracles following close behind. Heracles rushed at him with his sword because he did not want another man to be considered better than himself. Telamon nearly died, but the attack did not prevent him from taking part in the sack.

Heracles captured Troy and killed Laomedon outside the walls. He also killed all of Laomedon’s sons except Podarces. Hesione, Laomedon’s daughter, was given to Telamon. When Podarces was about to be taken captive, Hesione asked to ransom him. She gave Heracles a golden veil that she had made, and he allowed her brother to live.

After this ransom, Podarces took the name Priam. The name marked his preservation when the rest of Laomedon’s sons were killed. Hesione therefore left Troy with Telamon, while her surviving brother remained known thereafter as Priam.