And the greatest of these was the Prince of Troy

The men of Troy—so legendary in their masculinity as to have condoms named after them, and the greatest of these was Hector, brave Prince of Troy. He has always been my favorite, even before Eric Bana made him delicious in the movie “Troy.”

His name (Ἑκτωρ) means “holding fast.”

He was the eldest son of Priam by Hecabe. Some traditions describe him as a son of Apollo, who did favor him and granted him blessings of protection and victory in the Trojan War. He was also a favorite of Athena.

He wisely proposed a duel between his brother Paris and Menelaus to put an end to the Trojan War. When divine intervention ensured that the gods would have their war after all, Hector fought bravely.

Protesilaus, who was the first of the Greeks to jump upon the Trojan coast, was said to be slain by Hector. This is not mentioned in the Iliad; his first act described in that poem is his censure of Paris who took to flight after having gone out to fight Menelaus in single combat. Hector himself then challenged Menelaus and killed him.

Pierre-Claude-Francois Delrome 1783-1859: Hector admonishes Paris, who removes his wreath and reaches for his helmet. Behind him sits Helen. (shameless hussy)

Hector was a lover as well as a fighter. The scene which takes place at the Scaean gate with his beloved wife Andromache is one of the most delicate and beautiful scenes in the Iliad. She pleads with him to withdraw from the field for her sake as well as their son’s. With understanding, compassion and tenderness, Hector convinces her to let him go. His baby son shrinks in terror from his father’s helmet, and Hector expresses hope that his son will one day be proud of his father and a better man than himself.

Hector is one of Homer’s noblest conceptions. He is a great leader, a man who commands respect. Even Achilles trembles when he approaches him. He has a presentiment of the fall of his country, but he perseveres in his heroic resistance, preferring death to slavery and disgrace. But besides these virtues of a warrior, he is distinguished also, and perhaps more so than Achilles, by those of a man: his heart is open to the gentle feelings of a son, a husband, and a father.