A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

2. A daughter of Acastus, and wife of Protesilaus. As the latter, shortly after his marriage, joined the Greeks in their expedition against Troy, and was the first that was killed there, Laodameia sued for the favour of the gods to be allowed to converse with him only for three hours. The request was granted : Hermes led Protesilaus back to the upper world, and when Protesilaus died a second time, Laodameia died with him. (Ov. Heroid. xiii. Ep. ex Pont. 3.1, 110; Catull. 64. 74, &c.; Lucian, Dial. Mort. 23.1; Serv. ad Aen. 6.447.) A later tradition states, that after the second death of Protesilaus, Laodameia made an image of her husband, to which she payed divine honours; but as her father Acastus interfered, and commanded her to burn the image, she herself leaped into the fire. (Hyg. Fab. 103, 104.)