Herakles Γ: What Wrath Hath Wrought
In the penultimate entrance in the Herakles series, we go to another lesser known story about our Theban friend. This one centers around his relationship to Troy.
Very basically, between his labors, Herakles travelled the ancient world when he came to Troy. King Laomedon, then regent, asked of Herakles to help rescue his daughter, Hesione. She was about to be eaten by a sea monster (descriptions vary but I typically hear of it being described as a dragon) and it was up to Herakles to save her. He struck a deal with Laomedon whereby he would save his daughter and in return he would receive magical horses. Why did Laomedon have magical horses? Why was Troy being beset by a large sea dragon? These are stories for another day. *
Anyway, Herakles went on his merry way, as he often did, and rescued the beautiful Hesione from a very ugly fate. Laomedon however, not being the sharpest tool in the shed, decided that this gigantic demigod was the perfect target for some impromptu shiftiness. So after having his daughter back, the man reneged on his previous arrangement and told Herakles he cannot have his horses. Herakles, in anger but due back in the court of Eurystheus, vowed revenge upon the king and his people.
A few years later, Herakles made good on his vow. He returned to Troy accompanied by an army and laid siege to the city. In said siege he slayed Laomedon and all his male heirs but one - Podarces. Podarces, who you might know as King Priam, is a story for another day as well.+
What Wrath Hath Wrought
With one hand I lifted Hesione to salvation
With the other I brought the dragon to ruin
And yet you deny me,
And yet you deny me!
Your shining city will shine no more
I will tear down houses wall by wall
My fury shall be the fodder of fables
All will know that which my wrath hath wrought
The shrieks of a city on fire are deafening
Tears fall and dry in the flame
Not every man is king
But they will suffer for Laomedon's shame
Your shining city will shine no more
Bowed and bleeding on the floor
My fury shall be the fodder of fables
All will know that which my wrath hath wrought
And in the wake of my wrath,
As the blood leaves my eyes clean,
Your spread ashes will know what you didn't
What stealing from Herakles means
*The story of the magical horses is a part of the abduction of Ganymede. The dragon arrived in Troy as a result of a previous deal Laomedon reneged on with Poseidon and Apollo.
+ Podarces' survival was bartered for by Hesione. She ransomed her little brother for a veil given to her for Aphrodite. Herakles' friend and general Telamon took Hesione as his wife following this siege. Their son, Teucer (Teucros) would go on to fight for the Greeks in the Trojan War.
