Sarpedon

Sarpedon, In Greek mythology, was

(1.) a son of Jupiter and Europa, who quarrelled with his brother. Minos and was compelled to leave Crete. He took possession of Lycia, and was permitted by Jupiter to live the period of time allotted to three generations of men.

(2.) A son of Jupiter and Laodamia, the daughter of Bellerophon. His uncles were engaged in a protracted dispute for the possession of the crown of Lycia, which was decided by the agreement that the realm should be awarded to him who should shoot a ring from the breast of a child without injuring the child. Laodamia presented her son for this trial, and the generosity of the mother led to his being appointed king. When the Trojan war broke out, both parties sought his aid. He decided in favor of Priam, and inflicted great injury on the Greeks when they landed and afterwards. He slew Tlepolemus (being at the same time severely wounded himself), led the fifth part of the army in the storming of the fortifications, mounted the wall, slew Alcmaeon and opened the way for the advance of the Trojans, and covered Hector when stricken down by Ajax, but ultimately fell by the hand of Patroclus. His horses and armor became the spoil of the Greeks, but his body was, by Jupiter's command, borne to Lycia for honorable interment by the hands of Sleep and Death.

(3.) A son of Neptune and brother of Poltys, who lived in Thrace and was given to deeds of violence. He was slain by Hercules.