Laokoon (1)Laocoon

The Trojan prophet who tried to warn king Priam that the Wooden Horse was a trick and not a peace offering.

When the Greeks appeared to withdraw from the city of Troy after a ten year siege, they left a large Wooden Horse, with soldiers hidden inside, that they hoped the Trojans would take into their city as a peace offering; once the Wooden Horse was inside the walls of Troy, the soldiers were to emerge from the hollow horse and attack the Trojans as they slept.

Laokoon tried to warn the Trojans but his pleas were scorned; a giant serpent rose from the sea and killed Laokoon and one (or both) of his sons; Priam assumed that Laokoon was killed because he was giving false prophecy and not because the Immortals wanted the prophet silenced so that Troy could be conquered and despoiled.