Lāŏcoon

, a son of Priam and Hecuba, or, according to others, of Antenor, or of Capys. As being priest of Apollo, he was commi ioned by the Trojans to offer a bullock to Neptune to render him propitious. During the sacrifice two enormous serpents i ued from the sea, and attacked Laocoon’s two sons, who stood next to the altar. The father immediately attempted to defend his sons, but the serpents, falling upon him, squeezed him in their complicated wreaths, so that he died in the greatest agonies. This punishment was inflicted upon him for his temerity in di uading the Trojans to bring into the city the fatal wooden horse which the Greeks had consecrated to Minerva, as also for his impiety in hurling a javelin against the sides of the horse as it entered within the walls. Hyginus attributes this to his marriage against the consent of Apollo, or, according to others, for his polluting the temple by his commerce with his wife Antiope before the statue of the god. Virgil , Æneid , bk. 2 , lis. 41 & 201.— Hyginus , fable 135.