The poetical histories being a compleat collection of all the stories necessary for a perfect understanding of the Greek and Latine poets and other ancient authors / written originally in French, by the learned Jesuite, P. Galtruchius ; now Englisht and enricht with observations concerning the gods worshipped by our ancestors in this island, by the Phœnicians, and Syrians in Asia ... ; unto which are added two treatises, one of the curiosities of old Rome, and of the difficult names relating to the affairs of that city, the other containing the most remarkable hieroglyphicks of Ægypt, by Marius d'Assigny ...

CHAP. XIII.

Of the Kings of Troy.

THe City of Troy hath been heretofore one of the most famous of Asia minor, as well for its largeness and riches, as for that Renowned War which it n annag'd against the Army of Greece. It was scituate in Phry∣gia, which is a Province stretching it self up∣on the Coast of the Aegean Sea, near unto the Hellespont, called now the River of Constan∣tineple, over against the C••e••s••n••sus of Thra∣cia, and the Island Tenedos, which was not far distant from it. The River Soamander, that proceeds from the Mount Ida, did run by the walls to joyn with the waters of the River Sim is; both together do empty them∣selves into the Sea, near the Promontory called Sigeum

The first who built this City, and who commanded there in Chief, was Dardanius the Son of Electra and of Jupiter. When he had kill'd his Brother Jasius, he was forced to fly away, and secure himself in Phrygia, where he espoused the Daughter of King Teucer, with whom he joyntly reigned in that Country, which was sometimes named T••ucria, and sometimes Dardania: The Ci∣ty of Troy did also bear the same name. In

the time that Moses left the leading of the People of Israel to Joshua, about 700 years before the building of the City of Rome, and 650 years after the first Foundations of the Assyrian Monarchy.

Dardanus left his Kingdom to his Son E∣richthonius, who begot Tros: When he was possest of the Kingdom, he called the City after his own name Troja, and the Country round about was named Troas.

This Tros had several sons, first Ganime∣des, who was ravisht by Jupiter; Assaracus the Father of Capys, of whom was Anchises the Favourite of Venus, who had by him Ae∣neas, born upon the banks of the River Si∣mois: But the chief of his Children, and the Heir of his Crown was Ilus, who gave unto the City of Troy the name of Ilium, when he had mightily enriched it.

Laomedon succeeded Ilus his Father; it was ••e that built the walls of the City of Troy, by the assistance of Apollo and of Neptu∣nus, as we have noted in the fifth Chapter of the former Book. He had promised unto them with an Oath a certain reward for their labour, but he was so unworthy afterwards as to refuse it, which caused them to afflict him with many diseases: So that to satisfie them he was forced to expose his own Daughter Hesione to be devoured of the Sea-Monsters. We have also taken notice how he treated with Hercules to deliver her from the danger, and how he dealt treacherously

also with him, as he had done formerly with Neptunus and Apollo: But it proved the cause of his ruine; for Hercules gathered together the Forces of his Friends, especially of Telamon the King of Salamis, and the Father of Ajax, and then besieged this Tray∣tor Laomedon. He put him to death, and carried away all his wealth, with Hesione his Daughter, who was married to Telamon. His Son also was taken and made prisoner, but his Subjects redeemed him; and therefore he was called Priam, which in Greek signifies a Redeemed.

When Priam saw himself established in the Kingdom, he began to enlarge his Domini∣ons, and to render the City of Troy far more famous than ever it was before; for he rebuilt all the walls, adorning them with Forts and Bastions, which were then called Pergama.

His Wives name was Hecuba, the Daugh∣ter of the King of Thracia; she had by him several Children, Hector, Polites, Deïphobe, He∣lenus the Soothsayer, Troïlus, Paris, and Po∣lydorus: Polyxene, Cassandra, and Creüsa were his Daughters: His Court and Palace were full of pomp and glory, and he lived in this prosperous estate many years: But at last he was so unhappy, as to behold with his own eyes the desolation and utter ruine of the Ci∣ty of Troy, that lasted only three hundred years. We shall see how this change came to pass.

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〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 Laomedon had eight Children▪ 〈…〉〈…〉 Daughters; Lampus, Clitio, and 〈…〉〈…〉 mentioned by Homerus; 〈…〉〈…〉 Priamus Antigone, and 〈…〉〈…〉 remarkable. Their 〈…〉〈…〉 perjury, that when any of 〈…〉〈…〉 faithful, they are said to be 〈…〉〈…〉 La∣omedon.

Antigone had such a rare beauty, that she preferred her self to Juno, who changed her in∣to a Stork.

Titonus was married to Aurora, of whom the brave Champion of Aegypt Memnon was born.

Priam succeeded his Father Laomedon: Of Hecuba he had nineteen Children. Whiles he remained in peace, and espoused not the quarrels of the Asian people against Greece, he prospe∣red, and his Kingdom flourished mightily; but when he engaged himself in the publick enmity of his Country, and suffered Paris to affront the Grecians, he brought upon himself and his Subjects utter ruine and destruction, as Herodotus takes notice. But of him hereafter.

Notes

• He was the son of the King of Co∣rinth: when his elder Bro∣ther was dead, there was a dispute be∣tween him and his other Bro∣ther Jasius about the suc∣cession: part of the people did favour Dard▪ and the other Jasius. Dard. with his favourites took shipping, and setled in Phrygia. Philostr.
• Tros had War with Tantal. King of Phry∣gia, who took his son Gani∣mede prisoner, and sent him as a present to Jupiter King of Crete. This gave occasion to the Fable. Natal. Com.
• The truth is, Laomedon spoiled the Temples of Apollo and Nep••unus to build Troy. Natal. Com. de Neptuno. This sacriledg hath caused the Fa∣ble Menia Phoebe •• structa canore Lyne. Of Troy Ovid in Epist. Parid.
• Addit. Not.
• Nec dum Lao∣medonteae sen∣tis perjuria gent••s? Virg. lib 4 Aeneid
• Creusa, Cassan∣dra, Iliona, Laodicea, Li∣caste, Medisi∣casti, Polisena. Paris, Hector, Helenus Cao∣nus, Troilus, Deiphobe, Po∣lidorus, Lica∣on, Teucrus, &c.