Hector
（
Ἕκτωρ). The son of Priam and Hecuba and the most valiant
of all the Trojan chiefs that fought against the Greeks. He married Andromaché,
daughter of Eëtion, by whom he became the father of Astyanax. Hector was appointed
commander of all the Trojan forces, and for a long period proved the bulwark of his native
city. He was not only the bravest and most powerful, but also the most amiable, of his
countrymen, and particularly distinguished himself in his conflicts with Aiax, Diomedes, and
many other of the most formidable leaders. The fates had decreed that Troy should never be
destroyed as long as Hector lived. The Greeks, therefore, after the death of Patroclus, who
had fallen by Hector's hand, made a powerful effort under the command of Achilles; and, by the
intervention of Athené, who assumed the form of Deïphobus, and urged
Hector to encounter the Grecian chief, contrary to the remonstrances of Priam and Hecuba,
their effort was crowned with success. Hector fell, and his death accomplished the overthrow
of his father's kingdom. The dead body of the Trojan warrior was attached to the chariot of
Achilles, and insultingly dragged away to the Grecian fleet; and thrice
every day, for the space of twelve days, was it also dragged by the victor around the tomb of
Patroclus (
Il. xxii. 399 foll.; xxiv. 14 foll.). During all this time the corpse
of Hector was shielded from dogs and birds, and preserved from corruption, by the united care
of Aphrodité and Apollo. The body was at last ransomed by Priam, who went in person
for this purpose to the tent of Achilles. Splendid obsequies were rendered to the deceased,
and with these the action of the
Iliad terminates. Vergil makes Achilles to
have dragged the corpse of Hector thrice round the walls of Troy (
Aen. i. 483). Homer, however, is silent on this point. According to the
latter, Hector fled thrice round the city-walls before engaging with Achilles; and, after he
was slain, his body was immediately attached to the car of the victor, and dragged away as
stated above. The incident, therefore, alluded to by Vergil must have been borrowed from one
of the Cyclic poets, or perhaps some tragic writer.
