Laocoon 插畫檔

The story of Laocoon had been the subject of a now lost play by Sophocles, and was mentioned by other Greek writers. Laocoon was killed after attempting to expose the ruse of the Trojan Horse by striking it with a spear. The snakes were sent either by Apollo or Poseidon, and were interpreted by the Trojans as proof that the horse was a sacred object. The most famous account of these events is in Virgil's Aeneid (See the Aeneid quotation at the entry Laocoon), but this very probably dates from after the sculpture was made.