InGreek mythology,Polites (Ancient Greek:Πολίτης) was the legitimateson of KingPriam and QueenHecuba and was known for his swiftness.^[1] He was aprince ofTroy, and brother of 49 other children, including 12 daughters. He was killed byNeoptolemus (Pyrrhus), son ofAchilles, who then also killed Polites' father.^[2] He is also known by his family as "defender of Troy."

Polites was born to Priam, King ofTroy, andHecuba, his wife. He lived inTroy during his youth, was crownedprince ofTroy, and was styledhis royal Majesty.^[2] During his youth, Polites witnessed theTrojan War and was a supporting character in theIliad.^[3]

Family

"King Priam though is arguably more famous for his own children than for any act or deed during the Trojan War; and indeed the children of King Priam number amongst the most famous individuals of Greek mythology". "Priam divorced Arisbe to wed Hecuba. He had several other wives as well, resulting in the birth of 50 sons along with several daughters." Many of his siblings' played a big role throughout Troy and the Trojan War.

During the episode of theTrojan Horse in the Trojan War, Polites was one of those who accepted the gift. During the fall of Troy and the attempted escape toLatium,Neoptolemus shot an arrow in Polites' leg. Polites fell, escaping Neoptolemus, who pursued Polites to his father's palace. Priam called on the gods to punish Neoptolemus, but in that scene, Priam was also killed by Neoptolemus.^[2][4] His killer was "a Greek Legend and the son of Achilles, the hero of the Greek army at Troy."

• Asteroid4867 Polites, named after Polites

• List of children of Priam

• Homer,The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924.Online version at the Perseus Digital xLibrary.
• Homer,Homeri Opera in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920.Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Publius Vergilius Maro,Aeneid. Theodore C. Williams. trans. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1910.Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
• Publius Vergilius Maro,Bucolics, Aeneid, and Georgics. J. B. Greenough. Boston. Ginn & Co. 1900.Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
• “Neoptolemus.”Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Neoptolemus.
• “The Children of Priam in Greek Mythology.”Greek Legends and Myths, www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/children-of-priam.html.
• Prof. Geller, et al. “Priam - Greek King of Troy.”Mythology.net, 1 Nov. 2016, mythology.net/greek/heroes/priam/.

• Media related toPolites of Troy at Wikimedia Commons

• Characters in the Odyssey
• Trojans
• Characters in the Aeneid
• Children of Priam
• Princes in Greek mythology

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text
• Commons category link is on Wikidata