According to Greek legend, the bravest Trojan, who led out their army to battle; the son of Priam, and married to Andromache. Achilles killed him and dragged his body behind his chariot all around the walls of Troy; Priam ransomed the corpse at the end of the Iliad.
In Greek mythology, Hector ( Ἑκτωρ, "holding fast"), or Hektor, was a Trojan prince and one of the greatest fighters in the Trojan War.
Later on in the story Andromache, Hector's wife, pleads with him to withdraw from the field for her sake as well as his son's (Astyanax). With understanding, compassion, and tenderness Hector saw her gloomy future and convinced her to let him leave. Then Hector left his family to fight.
At another point in the Iliad, Hector, knowing that he was not fated to die yet, challenged any one of the Greek warriors to single combat. After the initial reluctance of the Argives to accept the challenge and after Nestor's chiding, the major Greek heroes stepped up to the challenge and drew by lot to see who would face Hector. Ajax won the lot, and fought Hector to a standstill for the entire day, with neither able to obtain victory. Hector gave Ajax his sword (which Ajax would later use to commit suicide), while Ajax gave Hector his girdle. Hector formed three divisions to try and breach the wall and try to set fire to the ships. Eventually Hector smashed open the ramparts and even set fire to Protesilaus' ship, which was the apex of the Trojan assault.
After Patroclus had routed the Trojan army, Hector, with the aid of Apollo and Euphorbus, killed Patroclus. Hector would have made off with the body had not Achilles, who had just heard the news of his friend's death, given a loud and chilling warcry which made the Trojans scatter in terror. Patroclus' death caused Achilles to renounce his wrath that kept him out of action, and vowed to avenge his fallen comrade by killing Hector. Hector's comrade-in-arms Polydamas suggested that the Trojans waste no time and return to the walls of the city where they would be safer from Achilles' wrath. Hector however, would not listen, thinking the Trojans were still on the cusp of a total victory. Hector was left alone to face him. Seized by fear Hector turned to flee, as Achilles gave chase to him three times around the city. Hector then mastered his fear and turned to face Achilles. But Athena, in the guise of Hector's brother Deiphobus, deluded Hector. Hector threw a spear at Achilles which missed, then, when Hector turned to face his supposed brother to retrieve another weapon he saw no one there.
Achilles recognised the armour that his foe was wearing as his, and knew how to exploit its weakness, there was a chink in the armour at the throat. He plunged his spear through the chink and Hector was killed. Achilles then slit Hector's heels, and took the girdle that Ajax had given him and passed it through the slits of the heels. Even Helen mourned Hector, for he had always been kind to her and protected her from spite. The last lines of the Iliad are dedicated to Hector's funeral.
According to the Greek travel writer Pausanias, who lived in the mid-second century A.D., the city of Thebes sent a delegation to Troy to recover the bones of Hector.
Although a Pagan, Hector is listed as one of the Nine Worthies by Jean de Longuyon for his bravery and chivalrous spirit.
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