Priam of Troy

In Greek mythology, Priam (/ˈpraɪ.əm/; Greek: Πρίαμος, Príamos, pronounced [prí.amos]) was the king of Troy during the Trojan War and youngest son of Laomedon. In the Post-Homeric History of the Fall of Troy, he was described as provided with "a handsome face and a pleasant voice", "large and swarthy". According to Jenny March, his original name was Podarkes, before it was changed to Priam on his ascendancy to the Trojan throne.

Although there is no firm evidence that Troy was ever a Luwian settlement, or Luwian was the dominant local language, some scholars derive Priam's name from the Luwian name Pariya-muwas, which meant “exceptionally courageous” and was attested as the name of a man from Zazlippa, in Kizzuwatna. A similar form is attested transcribed in Greek as Paramoas near Kaisareia in Cappadocia.

Jenny March suggests the name comes from the Greek verb priamai, meaning to buy. This relates to the choice given to one of Laomedon's surviving daughters, Hesione, to allow one of the captive Trojans to be set free. Hesione chooses her brother Podarkes, thereby 'buying' his freedom, and Podarkes is consequently renamed Priam.

Priam was originally called Podarces – the established epithet of Achilles in the Iliad – and he kept himself from being killed by Heracles by giving him a golden veil embroidered by his sister, Hesione. After this, Podarces changed his name to Priam. This is a folk etymology based on πριατός priatós, "ransomed" from πρίασθαι príasthai, "to buy".

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