Priam is a secondary character who appears early in the series, at the space base of Troy. He is shown in direct conversation with Ulysses before the main voyage begins, and their discussion centers on Ulysses's future. During this exchange, Priam warns Ulysses about the situation developing on Earth: the suitor princes are threatening the peace, because Penelope, Ulysses's wife, will be forced to choose a new husband if Ulysses does not return before the next comet passes. This warning establishes the personal stakes that hang over Ulysses throughout the story.

In terms of personality, Priam comes across as a composed and concerned figure who is well informed about political matters and willing to speak openly with Ulysses about them. His brief appearance frames him as something of an advisor or confidant based at Troy, and the shared attention to the stability of Earth suggests a relationship of trust between the two men. He appears concerned about the consequences of Ulysses's absence and the pressure being placed on Penelope, which gives him a quiet motivation rooted in the welfare of those left behind.

His role, while small, is meaningful in narrative terms, because he delivers the news that sharpens the urgency of Ulysses's situation and reminds him of the limited time he has to return home. He does not appear to accompany Ulysses on the voyage, and there is little indication that he takes part in later events. For that reason, he does not undergo any notable development over the course of the series and remains a figure tied to the story's opening moments.

The character echoes the mythical king of Troy in name and in his association with the Trojan base, but in this futuristic setting he appears as a contemporary of Ulysses living in the thirty-first century rather than as a legendary ruler. No special abilities or powers are attributed to him; his importance rests on his connection to Ulysses and the warning he provides.