In mythology, daughter of King Laomedon of Troy. Laomedon had cheated Apollo and Poseidon and had to sacrifice his daughter to a sea monster (ketos). Herakles, en route to fight the Amazons, rescues her, an episode often shown in art. Laomedon also cheated Herakles, so the hero, en route home, destroyed Troy.
Above: Herakles rescues Hesione from the ketos. Detail from Corinthian (LC) red-ground crater. Boston. Museum of Fine Arts 63.420. © Boston. Museum of Fine Arts.
