Sarpedon
- proper noun
- Literature
- In Greek mythology, Sarpedon was a brave warrior who fought valiantly for the Trojans.
- Prince Sarpedon
Examples
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On one side is a view of Sleep and Death lifting the body of Sarpedon, a son of Zeus who was allied with the Trojans.
Academic text (2007) -
The soul of Sarpedon has already, as is normal, left the body and gone down to Hades (16.453, 505).
Academic text (1991) -
The epic poem vividly describes Sarpedon's courageous clash against the Greek heroes.
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When Sarpedon fell in battle, his father Zeus wept for his lost son, reflecting on the futility of war.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Sarpedon is a name from ancient Greek myth for a son of Zeus who became king of Lycia and fought for the Trojans in the Iliad. Because it is a proper name for that noble but fallen warrior — killed by Patroclus — Sarpedon now brings to mind a brave, tragic hero, so remembering his death helps you remember who he was.