Hector
Troy’s principal defender, husband and father, whose civic duty gives the war a family scale.
Overview
Hector is Troy’s principal defender, son of Priam and Hecuba, and husband of Andromache. Iliad Book 6 briefly moves him from battle into the city, where Andromache recalls the destruction of her family and foresees captivity for herself and their child. Hector admits the same fear but returns because honour, shame and civic duty bind him to the defence. In Book 22 he faces Achilles outside the walls and dies. His heroic and domestic identities do not cancel each other; because he is simultaneously son, husband, father and defender, his death anticipates the fate of the whole city.
Key facts
Family and civic duty
Hector’s exchange with Andromache places honour and responsibility for family in the same scene.
Death outside the walls
With Athena’s aid, Achilles kills Hector and drags away the body.
Relationships
- Priamfather of
Hector is a son of Priam.
- Hecubamother of
Hector is a son of Hecuba.
- Andromachemarried to
Hector and Andromache are married.
- Parisbrothers
Hector and Paris are brothers of Troy’s royal house.
- Troydefends
Hector treats the defence of Troy as a public duty.
- Patroclusdelivers the fatal blow
Euphorbus first wounds Patroclus; Hector then delivers the fatal blow.
- Achilleskills
Achilles kills Hector outside Troy.
- Achillesreturns the body
Achilles accepts ransom and allows Troy to bury Hector.
Story appearances
- The Trojan WarDefender linking heroic war to family and city
Returns to his family yet goes back to battle, kills Patroclus and is killed by Achilles.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.