In Greek mythology, Hector (in ancient Greek Héktôr) is a Trojan hero of the Trojan War.
Son of King Priam and Hecuba, he is the brother of Paris, the husband of Andromache and the father of Astyanax. Priam, unable to fight due to his age, makes him the general-in-chief of the Trojans. He is the most valiant of the warriors present during the war, with the exception of Achilles. He defeats many Greek heroes and kills 28, a record number among warriors (Achilles kills only 24).
Fate decrees that as long as he lives, the walls of Troy will not fall. After he killed Patroclus, companion of Achilles, the Greek takes up arms again. They clash for the first time after Achilles kills his brother Polydore:Hector throws his javelin at Achilles, but Athena diverts the course. When Achilles rushes towards the Trojan, Apollo intervenes to hide him in a cloud.
Body of Hector brought back to Troy, bas-relief from a Roman sarcophagus, c. 180-200, Louvre
Body of Hector brought back to Troy, bas-relief from a Roman sarcophagus, c. 180-200, Louvre Museum
Despite the admonitions of his parents, Hector is once again trained in combat by Athena, having taken on the features of her favorite brother, Deiphobe. At the start of the duel, the climax of the Iliad, he asks the Peleid to respect his corpse, but Achilles refuses. Hector throws his spear at him, without success, then is himself hit in the collarbone by the spear of Achilles. His corpse is attached to the chariot of its conqueror, and dragged towards the Greek camp, then around the tomb of Patroclus. According to Virgil, he is also dragged three times around the walls of Troy (the detail probably comes from the Trojan Cycle).
His father Priam must come to beg Achilles in the Greek camp to obtain his remains. Hector is cremated with great pomp, and his ashes are placed in a golden urn, wrapped in purple, buried not far from the ramparts. The last line of The Iliad concludes thus:
“This is how Hector was honored with good horses. »
(trans. Frédéric Mugler)
A good father, a good husband, of great wisdom, Hector is often considered the true hero of the Iliad.