# Hector — The Iliad character guide > Hector in The Iliad by Homer. **Role:** major **Also known as:** crested Hector, plumed Hector, mighty Hector, the Trojan knight Hector, royal Hector **First appearance:** 0001-the-iliad ## Snapshot Troy's foremost defender, who fights to save a city he knows may fall and a family he may never see again. ## Who they are Hector is Priam's eldest son and the wall between Troy and the Greek fleet, the man his people look to whenever the line wavers. He taunts Diomed and drives the Achaeans back to their ships, yet his boasts are shadowed by the knowledge that his wife Andromache and infant son depend on a victory he cannot guarantee. His courage and his overreach shape the battle's momentum through the poem's central books. ## Relationships ### [Achilles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/achilles) _rivalry_ Achilles and Hector are mortal enemies on the battlefield, with Achilles seeking vengeance for Patroclus's death. ### [Diomedes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/diomedes) _rivalry_ Diomedes and Hector are enemy warriors who fight each other in the thick of battle. ### [Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/paris) _family_ Hector is Paris's older brother, often chiding him for his cowardice but ultimately defending him and Troy. ### [Priam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/priam) _family_ Priam is Hector's father, and their relationship is deeply affectionate and tragic, especially during Hector's death and ransom. ### [Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/patroclus) _rivalry_ Hector kills Patroclus in battle, mistaking him for Achilles, which triggers Achilles' rampage. ### [Apollo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/apollo) _friendship_ Apollo supports Hector in battle, protecting him and guiding his spear until the final duel with Achilles. ### [Idomeneus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/idomeneus) _rivalry_ Hector and Idomeneus are opposing warriors who clash frequently in combat. ### [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/zeus) _psychological_ Zeus weighs Hector's fate on his golden scales and ultimately allows his death, showing divine manipulation of mortal destiny. ### [Hera](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/hera) _rivalry_ Hera opposes Hector as a Trojan champion, actively working to ensure his downfall. ### [Zeus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/zeus) _psychological_ Zeus weighs Hector's fate on his golden scales and ultimately allows his death, showing divine manipulation of mortal destiny. ### [Diomedes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/diomedes) _rivalry_ Diomedes and Hector are enemy warriors who fight each other in the thick of battle. ### [Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/paris) _family_ Hector is Paris's older brother, often chiding him for his cowardice but ultimately defending him and Troy. ## In the story ### [The Iliad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/the-iliad) Trojan prince and chief defender; bids farewell to Andromache, kills Patroclus, and is ultimately slain by Achilles. ### [Book III: Single Combat of Menelaus and Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-iii-single-combat-of-menelaus-and-paris) Rebukes Paris for his cowardice and arranges the truce and duel; he measures the combat space and shakes the lots. ### [Book V: The Exploits of Diomed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-v-the-exploits-of-diomed) Leads the Trojan phalanxes with Ares and Bellona, rallies the Trojans, and kills Menesthes and Anchialus. ### [Book VI: Interviews Between Glaucus and Diomed, and Hector and Andromache](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-vi-interviews-between-glaucus-and-diomed-and-hector-and-andromache) Hector is recalled from battle by Helenus to organize a religious procession; he later meets with his mother Hecuba, rebukes Paris, and shares an emotional farewell with Andromache and their son. ### [Book VII: The Combat of Hector and Ajax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-vii-the-combat-of-hector-and-ajax) Challenges the Greeks to single combat, fights Ajax to a draw, exchanges gifts, and returns safely to Troy. ### [Book VIII: The Second Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-viii-the-second-battle) Leads the Trojan assault, driving the Greeks back to their ships with Zeus's favor. ### [Book X: The Night-Adventure of Diomed and Ulysses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-x-the-night-adventure-of-diomed-and-ulysses) Hector organizes the Trojan camp and sends Dolon on a spying mission, promising him Achilles' horses. ### [Book XI: The Third Battle, and Exploits of Agamemnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xi-the-third-battle-and-exploits-of-agamemnon) Warned by Iris to avoid fighting until Agamemnon is wounded; after Agamemnon's retreat, he leads the Trojan counterattack and causes great havoc. ### [Book XII: The Battle at the Grecian Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xii-the-battle-at-the-grecian-wall) Leads the Trojan assault, dismounts on Polydamas' advice, and later breaks through the Greek gate with a stone. ### [Book XIII: The Continuation of the Fourth Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xiii-the-continuation-of-the-fourth-battle) Leads the Trojan assault, exchanges taunts with Ajax, and vows to destroy the Greek ships. ### [Book XIV: The Fraud Practised on Jupiter by Juno](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xiv-the-fraud-practised-on-jupiter-by-juno) Wounded by Ajax with a stone, collapses but is rescued by his comrades and carried to the river Xanthus. ### [Book XV: The Fifth Battle at the Ships](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xv-the-fifth-battle-at-the-ships) Hector is healed by Apollo and returns to battle with renewed fury, leading the Trojan assault on the Greek ships. He is driven by Zeus's will and his own doomed fate. ### [Book XVI: The Sixth Battle—Death of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xvi-the-sixth-battle-death-of-patroclus) Leads the Trojan assault, cuts Ajax's spear, sets fire to the Greek ships, kills Patroclus, boasts over his body, and is prophesied to die by Achilles. ### [Book XVII: The Seventh Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xvii-the-seventh-battle) Leads the Trojan assault, strips Patroclus of his armor, and is rebuked by Glaucus for neglecting Sarpedon's body. ### [Book XVIII: The Grief of Achilles for the Death of Patroclus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xviii-the-grief-of-achilles-for-the-death-of-patroclus) Exults in wearing Achilles's armor but is warned by Polydamas; rejects the advice to retreat. ### [Book XX: The Battle of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xx-the-battle-of-the-gods) Encourages the Trojans and confronts Achilles, but is saved by Apollo. ### [Book XXI: The Battle in the River Scamander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxi-the-battle-in-the-river-scamander) Mentioned as the target Achilles seeks to face after driving the Trojans into the city. ### [Book XXII: The Death of Hector](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxii-the-death-of-hector) Hector resolves to face Achilles outside the Scaean gates, despite his parents' entreaties, but flees when Achilles approaches. He is deceived by Athena and ultimately killed by Achilles, his body dragged behind a chariot. ### [Book XXIV: The Body of Hector Recovered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxiv-the-body-of-hector-recovered) His body is recovered, washed, anointed, and prepared for funeral rites. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/hector - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters