HECTOR ("Eorrcep), the greatest of the Trojan heroes who figure in our accounts of the Trojan war. lie was the son of Priam and Hecuba, and married to Andromache. The poet of the 'Iliad' describes him not only as • bold and gallant warrior whom Achilles himself dreaded to approach, but as a hero ennobled by all the more tender and humane virtue., so that It almost seems as if tho poet had developed his character with more care than that of any other hero, not even excepting Achilles. Hector is the favourite of his parents, and himself a happy husband and father. Tito reader need only be reminded of the beautiful passages iu the ' Iliad' (vi. 369, ke.), where Hector, before going to battle, takes leave of his wife and child, and where (xxii.), amid the lamentations of his parents, he prepares him self for the contest with Achilles. Wherever the battle is fiercest, Hector is foremost, and, protected by the gods Ares (Mars) and Apollo, he fights vIctorioualy against the bravest of the Greeks, such as Ajax, Nestor, Diomedes, and Teucrus. He was foremost among those who stormed the Creek camp, and advanced as far as the place where their ships were stationed. Patroclus then came forward and drove the
Trojans back to their city, but was slain by Hector. This calamity roused Achilles from his inactivity, and, thirstiug to avenge the death of his friend, lie sought Hector, who, though Implored by his parents to save himself, resolved to engage with his enemy. Achilles thrice chased him round the walls of Troy, and finally pierced him with his spear. !lector's body was tied to the conqueror's chariot and dragged to the camp of the Greeks ; at the funeral solemnities of I'atroclus, it was dragged thrice around his tomb, and then thrown away to be devoured by the dogs ; but at length Achilles gave up the body to Priam, who appeared as a suppliant before him and begged for it. The remains of Hector were buried at Troy, where funeral sacrifices were offered to Hector as a hero ; at a later time however his remains are said to have been conveyed to Thebes, iu pursuance of an oracle. (Pansanias, iii. 18. 9 ; ix. 18. 4.)