Samian ware flask from Southern Gaul, 1st century CE, depicting Heracles killing Laomedon, King of Troy, at the Museo Civico Archeologico della Valle Sabbia in Gavardo (Brescia)
Samian ware flask from Southern Gaul, 1st century CE, depicting Heracles killing Laomedon, King of Troy, at the Museo Civico Archeologico della Valle Sabbia in Gavardo (Brescia). In one version of mythology, Laomedon, king of Troy, was the father of Ganymede. Zeus fell in love with the beautiful boy and, disguised as an eagle, kidnapped the child. Laomedon grieved so much for his son Zeus sent Hermes to Laomedon with two magn ificent horses so swift they could run across water. Hermes also assured the king that Ganymede would become immortal and would thereafter be the distinguished cup bearer for the gods. Sometime later, Laomedon began constructing walls around his city of Troy and promised a reward to Apollo and Poseidon for their assistance. But after the walls were completed Laomedon refused to give them the promised payment. So the gods, in their anger, sent a pestilence and a sea monster to ravage the land. An oracle revealed to Laomedon that the only way to save Troy would ...