What is the origin and meaning of the name Hector?
The name Hector derives from a Greek verb meaning to hold or possess. Archaeological evidence shows the name existed during Mycenaean times on a Linear B tablet.
Questions about Hector
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who were the parents of Hector and what was his family situation?
Hector's parents were King Priam and Queen Hecuba. He wed Andromache at the gates of Troy while carrying their infant son Astyanax.
How did Achilles kill Hector during the Trojan War?
Achilles struck Hector around the collar bone where the stolen armor offered no protection. The wound allowed Hector to speak his final words before dying in the dust.
Why did Hector choose to fight outside the city walls instead of defending them?
His dread of shame drove him to fight on frontlines instead of defending city walls. James M. Redfield sees Hector's fate as consequence of his aidos or fear of disgrace.
Which later authors included Hector in their literary works after Homer?
Virgil included dead Hector appearing in dream urging Aeneas to flee burning Troy. Dante placed Hector and his family in Limbo among virtuous non-Christians in Inferno.