Hector
Posted on | April 12, 2008 |
Heralded by some as the greatest fighter of the Trojan War, Hector is remembered not only as being one of the distinguished members of the noble Nine Worthies, but also as one of the most courageous warriors of Greek Mythology. Hector was a pivotal character in Homer’s Iliad.
Mythology
Hector was the son of Priam, and Hecuba, the King and Queen of Troy during the Trojan War. Being the noble man that he was, Hector did not approve of the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. After an inconclusive duel (that would have ended the war) between his brother Paris and the king of Ancient Sparta, Menelaus, an archer named Pandarus wounded Menelaus with a surprise arrow attack, causing the Trojan War to carry on.
After a heavy Greek attack and despite his wife Andromache’s pleads, Hector decided to launch a counter-attack. Although Hector knew that Troy and the house of Priam would inevitably be conquered, he was also informed by his divinely inspired brother Helenus that he was not yet fated to die. After emerging from the gates, he challenged any one of the Greek warriors to single combat. After much hesitation, Ajax accepted the challenge and the two battled for the entire day with neither ever becoming victorious. They ended up commending each other’s valor and Hector even gave Ajax his sword, while Ajax in turn gave Hector his girdle.
The bloody battles ensued once again in the days following, and then Patroclus, the closest companion of the infamous Achilles, disguised himself in the armor of Achilles and headed into battle, where he was eventually killed by Hector. Hector then took the armor for himself. Shortly after, a fierce battle for the body of Patroclus began, which the Greeks ended up winning. Upon discovering the body of his comrade, Achilles became enraged, and vowed to avenge his death.
Achilles went on a rampage killing several Trojans on his quest to find Hector. Once Hector realized that Achilles was near, he became overwhelmed with fear and fled, and Achilles chased him throughout the city of Troy. Eventually, Hector overcame his fear and confronted Achilles, and asked that his body be returned to Priam for a proper burial, to which Achilles refused. After a couple missed spear attacks by Achilles, Hector drew his sword. Achilles then realized that Hector was wearing his own armor, which he had taken from Patroclus, and then plunged his spear into the weak spot at the throat, creating the wound that slowly killed Hector. As Hector died, he begged Achilles to not desecrate his body, but Achilles responded by instead divulging in detail exactly what he would do to his body. Once he was dead, Achilles cut slits in each of Hector’s heels and removed Hector’s girdle, which he received from Ajax, and slid it through the slits he made. He then fastened it to his chariot and drug Hector’s body through the dust all the way back to Danaan camp. When king Priam appeared in person to request the body of his son be returned, Achilles obliged out of respect. Hector is remembered in the last lines of the Iliad, and is referred to as “the tamer of horses”.
Hector in Popular Culture:
- The character of Hector was played by Eric Bana in the 2004 blockbuster, Troy, and also by Harry Andrews in the 1956 film, Helen of Troy.
- The Jack of Diamonds bears the likeness of Hector in French playing cards.
- Heavy Metal band Manowar has a song about the death of Hector on their album The Triumph of Steel.
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May 30th, 2010 @ 3:50 am
i love this thanks for the great info