HECTOR  , in

Greek mythology, son of Priam and Hecuba, the husband of Andromache . Like Paris and other Trojans, he had an Oriental name, Darius . In Homer he is represented as an ideal warrior, the champion of the Trojans and the mainstay of the city . His character. is drawn in most favourable colours as a good son, a loving husband and father, and a trusty friend . His leave-taking of Andromache in the sixth hook of the Iliad, and his departure to meet Achilles for the last time, are most touchingly described . He is an especial favourite of Apollo; and later poets even describe him as son of that god . His chief exploits during the war were his defence of the wounded Sarpedon, his fight with Ajax, son of Telamon (his particular enemy), and the storming of the Greek ramparts . When Achilles, enraged with Agamemnon, deserted the Greeks, Hector drove them back to their ships, which he almost succeeded in burning . Patroclus, the friend of Achilles, who came to the help of the Greeks, was slain by Hector with the help of Apollo . Then Achilles, to revenge his friend's death, returned to the war, slew Hector, dragged his body behind his chariot to the camp, and afterwards round the tomb of Patroclus . Aphrodite and Apollo preserved it from corruption and mutilation . Priam, guarded by Hermes, went to Achilles and prevailed on him to give back the body, which was buried with great honour .

Hector was afterwards worshipped in the

Troad by the Boeotian tribe Gephyraei, who offered sacrifices at his grave .