Protesilaus and Laodamia. Son of Iphiclus and uncle of Philoctetes, Protesilaus joined the Greek expedition to Troy shortly after his wedding to Laodamia, daughter of Acastus. An oracle had warned that the first man to step ashore at Troy would be the first casualty, and so, when confronted by Hector and other Trojans, most of the warriors hesitated. But Protesilaus bravely leapt onto the shore, killing several Trojans before losing his own life. He was buried across the Hellespont on the Thracian Chersonese. Elm trees around the grave of Protesilaus grew tall enough to command a view of Troy, then withered while fresh branches sprang from the roots.

    Laodamia grieved so deeply that Hermes brought her husband back from Hades for three hours, during which time Protesilaus urged her to join him. When his visit ended she took her life.

   

    Classical Sources. Homer, Iliad 2.695—710,13.681,15.705!. Stasinus, Cypria 17. Herodotus, History 7.33, 9.116-20. Catullus, Carmina 68.74ff. Propertius, Elegies 1.9.7. Ovid, Heroides 13;Ars amatoria 3.17; Tristia 1.6.20; Exponto 3.1.110.