Hector of Troy, the eldest son of King Priam, was known as Troy's chief defender during their legendary battle against the Greeks in the Trojan War. Hector's character of courage, loyalty, and honor is displayed throughout Homer's epic the Iliad. He is the older brother of the rebellious lover Paris and the husband of the beautiful Andromache.
Hector is forced to defend his homeland from the massive army of Greeks, when his foolish brother Paris claims the married Helen of Sparta as his bride.
Outraged by this Helen's husband Menelaus and an army of Greeks rise against Troy.
During this epic war, Hector is matched against the famous hero Achilles, who has been named as the Greeks' greatest warrior.
With the aid of the sun god Apollo, Hector kills Achilles' closest friend Patroclus. To avenge this Achilles challenges Hector and in the end kills him. Denying Hector the honor he deserved, Achilles dragged his corpse behind his chariot until his rage subsided and the prince's body was utterly defiled.
(Above is a picture from the 2004 film Troy, based on Homer's epic poem The Iliad.
Hector (shown left) portrayed by Eric Bana, and his brother Paris (right) portrayed
by Orlando Bloom.)
Works cited:
Information:
http://ancienthistory.about.com. Reviewed on January 13th, 2009.
http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/grecoromanmyth1/g/hector.htmPicture:
http://www.aftercheese.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/troy_paris_hector.jpg
