LAOCOON. 767 LAOMEDON. and recent opinions, based on a comparison with the "Gigantomachy" at Perganius, and the evidence of inscriptions coiitainiug the artist's signature of Athenodorus, incline to date the group toward the end of the second century B.C. In spite of its wonderful execution, this group is not an example of the best Greek work, but belongs to a period of low artistic ideals. For an a'Sthetic exposition of its merits, consult Les- sing. Laokoon odcr iiher die (Jrcnzcn dir Mahrci vjui I'ocsic. especially in the second edition by Bliimncr (Berlin, 1880), where the earlier litera- ture is cited; also Robert, Bild und Lied (Berlin, 1881); Kekule, Zur Deutung und Zcitbestim- miinrj des Laokoo-n (Stuttgart, 1883) ; and Fiirster. in the Verhandliingen der vierzigsten Philologenversammhing zu Gorlitz (Leipzig, 1800). LAOD'AMAS (Lat., from Gk. Aao(5(£/ios). (1) The son of the Phaeacian King Alcinous and Arete. ( 2 I King of Thebes and son of Eteocles. The expedition of the Epigoni against Thebes took place in his reign, and he was slain by Alcmaeon, after having killed their leader, ^gialeus. LA'ODAMI'A (Lat., from Gk. Aaoodfuia, La- odameia). (1) The daughter of Acastus and Astydamia. Learning of the death of her hus- band, Protesilaus, in the Trojan War, she con- soled herself by keeping constantly with her a wooden image of the hero; and when her father caused it to be burned in order to turn her mind from her sorrow, she threw herself into tlie fire. According to another tradition, Protesilaus was restored to life for three hours, and Laodaniia accompanied hira on his return to the lower world. The story is used by Wordsworth in his poem Laodnmia. (2) The daugliter of Bellero- plion and mother by Zeus of Sarpedon. LAODICE, lA-odl-se ( Lat.. from Gk. Aoookjj, Laodike) . ( 1 ) A nymph, and the mother of Niobe by Phoroneus. (2) The daughter of Priam and Hecuba, and wife of Helicaon. (3) In Homer, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, called Electra by the tragic poets. LAODICE A, Ifi'od-l-se'a (Lat., from Gk. AaoSiKfia, Lnodikeia). The name of several Greek cities in the East, built by the Seleucidie, who ruled the Kingdom of Syria after the death of Alexander the Great. Five of these were named after Laodice, wife of Seleucus Nicator, and one after the wife of Antiochus Tlieos. Tliree are of some importance, two in Asia Jlinor and one in Syria, jlost important was Lnodicen ad Liieum, situated in Southwestern Asia Minor, commonly reckoned in Plirygia, though sometimes inchuled in Caria or Lydia. It was situated aliout 11 miles west of Colossse, at the junction of several important roads from the coast and in- terior, and was at one time called Diospolis, but was renamed by Antiochus Thcos (B.C. 260), who reiv-tabjislied and fortified the town as a centre of (Ireek inlluenee. It soon became a large and weallliy city, and, in spite of the disasters of the !Mithradatic wars, it was a chief seat of Roman influence under the Empire. It seems to have early become a Christian centre, as it is men- tioned in the Epistle to the Colossians (ii. 1), and is one of the seven churches addressed in the Apocalypse. The town was a banking centre, and famous for its manufacture of cloth from the glossy black wool of the district, but it likewise had obtained great renown for its school of medicine connected with the Temple of Men Karu, who was identified with the Greek Asclepios. It changed hands more than once in the wars be- tween the Byzantine Empire and the Turks, and graduallj' fell into decay. The site, known as Eski-hissar, is deserted, but contains a number of fine ruins of the Roman period, including a well-preserved stadium and two theatres. The town was supplied with water by an aqueduct of which many arches remain. Consult Ramsay, Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia, vol. i. (Oxford, 1895). Another town, founded by Seleucus Nicator, in the territory of Lycaonia, was situated on the highroad from Ephesus to the East. The town was known as Laodicea Combttsta (Gk. AaoSlxtta KaraKeKavp^m)], probably because of an early de- struction by fire, though Strabo says the name Avas due to the volcanic rocks in the neighbor- hood ; modern travelers deny that there is any such formation. The modern Sorgan Ladik prob- ably occupies the site of this city, and in the neighborhood are extensive architectural re- mains. Tlie third city, also founded by Seleucus, was Laodicea ad Slate, in Xorthern Syria, now Latakia (q.v.). LAODICEA, CorxciL of. A council held dur- ing the fourth century, but whether toward the beginning, middle, or end has been earnestly debated without being determined. It consisted of thirty-two bishops from different provinces of Asia, and embodied its decisions in sixty canons, relating to matters of ritual, church order, dig- nity, precedence, discipline, morals, faith, and heresy. The most important of them is the last, giving a list of the books of Scripture received at that time as canonical, which does not contain the Apocrypha or Revelation. They may be found in Hardouin. Conciliorum Collectio, vol. i. (Paris. 1715). Consult Hefele, Konzilien- gcschichte, vol. ii. (Freiburg, 1855-74). LAODICEANS, la'6d-i-se'anz, EpiSTXE to THE. See Apocrypha; Ephesiaxs, Epistle to THE. LAOKOON, lu-dk'oon. A treatise on the characteristics of poetry and sculpture by Less- ing (176G), based upon the Laocoon group in the Vatican. It was written to combat the views of Winckelmann, who believed that the expres- sion of repressed agony given by the sculptor to Laocoon's face indicated a higher type of heroism than the priest's cries as described by Vergil. LAOM'EDON (Lat., from Gk. Aoo^^5w»). Son and successor of Ilus, who founded the city of Ilium. He is said to have been served by Poseidon and Apollo by command of Zeus, the former erecting the walls of the new city, while Apollo acted as herdsman. Laoniedon having re- fused to pay them according to agreement. Apollo sent a plague and Poseidon a sea-monster, which killed many Trojans, until an oracle commanded the offering of Laomedon's daughter Hesione. Hercules appeared at this point, and. having been promised the immortal horses given by Zeus to Tros. slew the monster and freed Hesione. When his reward was refused. Hercules gathered a small force, killed Laoniedon. ciipturcd the city, and carried off Hesione as booty, after placing
