POLYMESTOR (king of the Bistonians)

When Priam entrusted his son Polydorus to Polymestor's care, the boy was kept in the king's house along with a large amount of gold.^7,6,4 Motivated by greed after hearing of the Phrygians' defeat, Polymestor killed Polydorus to prevent the boy from repopulating Troy and causing the Achaeans to attack Thrace.^7,4 He stabbed the fosterchild in the throat with a sword, mutilated the body, and threw the corpse from a rock into the sea instead of burying it.^4,5

Hecuba and the captive women blinded Polymestor and killed his children in retaliation for his godless actions.^8,7,4 Polymestor emerged from the tent blind and stumbling, with blood streaming from his eyes.^8,9 He attempted to break down the tent doors with a heavy bolt and called out to his Thracian spearmen for assistance.^8,10 Fearing his children would be killed and eaten by dogs, he rushed toward a chamber to protect them from the maenads.⁹

Polymestor appealed to the sons of Atreus for help and considered flying to the sky or plunging into Hades to escape his fearful fate.¹⁰ He begged Agamemnon to allow him to tear Hecuba apart with his hands, but Agamemnon ordered him to stop his rage and plead his case fairly.⁷ Despite his claims that the Achaean army was well-disposed toward him, he was defeated and captured by Hecuba, a woman and slave.^3,2

Polymestor was dragged away by Agamemnon's servants to be cast on a desert island, suffering physical harm as punishment for his crimes.² Aechmis succeeded Polymestor to the throne after his death.¹