Introduction
Laomedon was king of Troy and father of Priam. He hired Apollo and Poseidon (condemned to a year of mortal servitude) to build Troy's walls, then refused to pay their agreed wage.
Family
A Pattern of Broken Promises
In punishment for his deceit, Poseidon sent a sea monster to ravage Troy, which could only be appeased by sacrificing Laomedon's daughter Hesione. Heracles offered to kill the monster in exchange for Laomedon's divine horses, but Laomedon reneged on this bargain too. Heracles later returned with an army, sacked Troy, and killed Laomedon and all his sons except young Priam, who was ransomed and became the city's next king.
As with all figures of Greek heroic legend, sources diverge on many particulars; the account above follows the most widely transmitted classical tradition.