in ancient Greek mythology, the aged king of Troy and father of Hector, Paris, Cassandra, and numerous other sons and daughters who died during the Trojan War. One of the most moving episodes in the Iliad depicts Priam’s visit to the Greek camp, where he begs Achilles to yield the body of the slain Hector. On the night that Troy is taken, Priam himself seeks refuge at the altar of Zeus but later perishes in sight of Hecuba, his wife, by the sword of Neoptolemus, son of Achilles.