---
title: Laocoon
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1375/laocoon/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Laocoon

_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_

## Image File

[![Laocoon](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/1375.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/1375.jpg)

## Image Caption

Laocoon was a Trojan hero who during the [Trojan war](https://www.worldhistory.org/Trojan_War/) tried to warn his compatriots against accepting the gift of the Trojan Horse. However, [Athena](https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/) and [Poseidon](https://www.worldhistory.org/poseidon/), who supported the Greeks, sent two gigantic sea snakes to destroy Laocoon. This marble statue, dated to 40-30 BCE, captures the moment the snakes kill Laocoon and his two sons. According to the myth only the Trojan hero [Aeneas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aeneas/) heeded Laocoon's advice and fled to eventually establish the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). Discovered on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. (The Vatican Museums).

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Cartwright, M. (2013, August 09). Laocoon. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1375/laocoon/>
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Laocoon." *World History Encyclopedia*, August 09, 2013. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1375/laocoon/>.
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Laocoon." *World History Encyclopedia*, 09 Aug 2013, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1375/laocoon/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 09 August 2013. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.