Hector of Troy - Biography
Great Warrior
Hector was the eldest son of Priam, King of Troy, and his wife Hecuba. He was commander-in-chief of the Trojan army and truly a great warrior, the best. There is a statue of him at the entrance to the village of Intepe-Erenkoy between Canakkale and Troy. The name of Eren-koy, reputed to be Hector’s birthplace, derives from Erin-Keui or Ren-koi and in ancient times was known as Ophryn(e)ion. The tomb of Hector is located in a grove near the village.
Family Man
Though a brave and a skilful fighter, he was at heart a family man, married to Andromache with one son. Noble and peace-loving, he was motivated by duty, honor, and defending his city. This fateful combination would lead to his tragic end.
First-footer
Even as the Greek fleet approached the shores of Troy, Hector was there with shield and sword at the ready. He himself slew the first Greek (Achaean) to set foot on Trojan soil, Protesilaus. (Defying an oracle that the first Greek warrior to land at Troy would be killed, Prince Protesilaus from Thessaly immediately leapt ashore and was killed, thus fulfilling the prophecy.)
Duel with Ajax
As he led the Trojan forces and the tide of battle raged back and forth, Hector was always at the front, rallying his men, and fought many one-to-one duels. One such combat was between Hector and Ajax. Fighting each other all day to a standstill, they eventually agree to call it a draw and exchanged weapons (Hector’s sword to Ajax, Ajax’s girdle to Hector) much like football players swapping jerseys at the end of a match.
Mistaken Identity
The war went on. One of the reasons the Greeks couldn’t win was that Achilles was absent from the field of battle, sulking in his tent because his prize in battle, the slave girl Briseus, was given to Agamemnon instead. Patroclus, a close companion of Achilles, borrowed his armor without his knowledge and sallied forth into battle, soon to be slain by Hector, who thought he was the real Achilles.
A Man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do
Great was the wrath of Achilles when he heard that his buddy had been killed by Hector. Vowing revenge, he stormed towards the Trojans seeking out Hector. When Hector saw Achilles he tried to flee, knowing that Achilles was invincible, immortal in fact, and that he had no chance at all. Finally, realizing that the honor of Troy was at stake, Hector stood his ground and faced his deadly opponent. Blows were exchanged. Achilles speared Hector through a chink in his armor and Hector died a hero’s death.
A worthy hero
Achilles did not do the honorable thing. He tied Hector’s body to the back of his chariot and dragged it round the walls of Troy in full view of his father King Priam and his family, then took it back to the Greek camp. Only after King Priam had begged and presented gifts was Hector’s corpse returned and given a proper funeral.
In Byzantine times, Hector’s armor was still on display in a small church at Troy in remembrance of his heroic feats.
Such were the principles that Hector lived and died for that during the Middle Ages he was included among the “Nine Worthies”, who were believed to personify the ideals of chivalry. The others were Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Joshua, David, Judas Maccabeus, King Arthur, Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon – all perfect warriors from royal families who most exemplified knighthood in their times.