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Hector Biography

Hector Image

HECTOR, The leader and mightiest warrior in the Trojan army, son of Priam and Hecuba, husband of Andromache, and father of Astyanax or Scam mandrius. In the Iliad he appears as brave in battle, but hasty and often imprudent; he is also full of reverence for the gods, tender love for his family, and devoted patriotism. During the absence of Achilles from the fight he storms the Greek camp and penetrates even to the ships. He is driven back by Patroclus the friend of Achilles, but at length, by the help of Apollo, slays Patroclus. Roused by a thirst for vengeance, Achilles is reconciled with Agamemnon and in divine armor routs the Trojans with fearful slaughter, and finally, after chasing Hector three times round the walls of Troy, slays him by the help of Athena and drags the body at his chariot wheels to the Greek ships. Here the corpse is miraculously preserved from corruption by the gods and finally ransomed by Priam. With the burial of Hector the Iliad closes. In the post-Homeric literature little is added to the picture of Hector. At Ilium he was worshiped as a hero, and similar offerings were made at Thebes, whither it was said an oracle had commanded the removal of his bones. In art the combats of Hector with various Greek heroes, his death, the maltreatment of his body, and his ransom are favorite subjects. 

The name "Hector" has been given to one of the minor planets in the plane of Jupiter's orbit.