4348 Poulydamas /paʊˈlɪdəməs/ is a large Jupiter Trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 82 kilometers (51 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 11 September 1988, by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California.^[1] The assumed C-type asteroid belongs to the 40 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 9.9 hours.^[5] It was named after Poulydamas from Greek mythology.^[3]

Poulydamas is a dark Jovian asteroid orbiting in the trailering Trojan camp at Jupiter's L₅ Lagrangian point, 60° behind its orbit in a 1:1 resonance (see Trojans in astronomy). It is also a non-family asteroid of the Jovian background population.^[7][18]

It orbits the Sun at a distance of 4.7–5.7 AU once every 12 years (4,383 days; semi-major axis of 5.24 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.10 and an inclination of 8° with respect to the ecliptic.^[4] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at Palomar in October 1953, nearly 35 years prior to its official discovery observation.^[1]

Poulydamas is an assumed, carbonaceous C-type asteroid.^[5]

This minor planet was named by the discoverer from Greek mythology after Poulydamas, the closest counselor and strategist of the Trojan prince Hector, after whom the minor planet 624 Hektor is named. Hector and Poulydamas were born on the same night. While the gods gave Hector the ability to perfectly master his arms, Poulydamas was given the present of better judgment. It was Poulydamas who urged to lock the gates of Troy against Achilles (also see 588 Achilles), but Hector left the city and confronted him nonetheless, which led to his doom and to the city's eventual downfall during the Trojan War.^[3] The official naming citation was published on 28 April 1991 (M.P.C. 18141).^[19]