The prowess of Hector results in some reticence amongst the assembled Achaean heroes to test themselves in single combat with Hector. With his anger raised by Paris’ failure to fight Menelaus, Hector seeks to bring an end to the war quickly, and sends out a challenge to the Achaean army, demanding that the bravest of the assembled heroes sally forth to meet him in combat Hector is best remembered though for fights with three Greek heroes, Ajax (the Greater), Patroclus and Achilles. The heroes of the Trojan War though are normally described in terms of the opposing heroes that they killed, and Hector was said to have killed 30 Achaean heroes, including Menesthes, Eioneus and Trechus. Throughout the war, Hector is at the forefront of the Trojan forces, and Hyginius’ Fabulae, the author claims that Hector alone killed 30,000 of the Achaean army although most sources put the complement of the entire Achaean army at somewhere between 70,000 and 130,000 men. Eventually, despite the best efforts of Hector and Cycnus, the Achaean’s gain a foothold on the beaches and men pour forth from the 1000 ships of the Achaean fleet, and the ten year war commences in earnest. Hector is normally credited with killing the first Achaean hero, Protesilaus, of the war Protesilaus being the first Greek to set foot on the beaches outside of Troy. Nevertheless the duty bound Hector leads the Trojan defenders against the invading army. With the arrival of the Achaean forces at Troy, Hector chastises his brother Paris for bringing potential destruction to their home, and also belittles him when Parisrefuses to fight Menelaus in single combat, a fight which potentially could have avoided fall scale war.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |