ILOS

in Greek mythology, the founder of Ilion (Troy). Ilos (or Zacynthus, a Cretan name) has been identified either as the brother of Erichthonius or as the son of Tros and grandson of Erichthonius. According to legend, the King of Phrygia gave Ilos a spotted cow as a wrestling prize, with the advice that he found a city wherever the cow first lay down. The animal chose the hill of Ate, where Ilos marked out the boundaries of Ilion. After praying for a sign from Zeus, Ilos was sent the Palladium, a statue of Pallas Athena, for which he built a temple. Ilos' son Laomedon succeeded him as ruler of the city, and his grandson Priam was the last king of Ilion.