Hector, leader of the Trojan troops in the war with the Achaeans, killed by Achilles
Hector, Greek - son of Priam and Hecuba, leader of the Trojan troops in the war with the Achaeans.
The Trojan people called him the shield of their city and revered him as a god. Hector was not only the most powerful and brave Trojan warrior, he was also distinguished by his beauty and nobility of spirit. In everything, Hector was superior to the leader of the Achaean troops, and the hero Achilles surpassed him only in strength.
If Agamemnon brought one hundred thousand Greeks under the walls of Troy, then Hector had fifty thousand at his disposal, and the majority were allies of the Trojans, who fought only for booty or money. The army of the Trojans themselves, defending their hometown, numbered only ten thousand. However, under the leadership of Hector, they successfully resisted the Achaeans for nine years. Hector did not limit himself to defensive battles, knowing full well that attack is the best type of defense. During forays, Hector always fought in the front ranks, drawing the entire Trojan army with him by his example. Even his enemies recognized the greatness of his exploits. At the very beginning of the war, he was not afraid of the tenfold superiority of the Achaeans and entered into battle with them in order to prevent them from landing on the shore. If he retreated, it was only in order to preserve his army for new defensive battles. During the nine years of war, the Achaeans suffered such losses that they lost heart and were ready to lift the siege of Troy, conclude an honorable peace and return to their homeland.
Stills from the film Troy: Hector (left) and his brother Paris. Actor Eric Bana plays Hector.
When, in the tenth year of the war, the Trojan ally Pandarus violated the truce, and Hector had to wage war contrary to the oath-sanctioned treaty, he did not despair and with his courage again won the favor of the gods. Skillfully taking advantage of the discord between Agamemnon and Achilles, because of which Achilles stopped military operations, Hector pushed the Greeks behind the walls of their camp, broke through the gates, and broke through to the Greek ships to burn them. He was not at a loss even when the Trojans took to their heels, frightened by the appearance of Patroclus in the armor of Achilles. Hector again closed ranks, marched against Patroclus and killed him in single combat.
After the victory over Patroclus, Hector's final feat awaited him: death on the battlefield. Forgetting about past grievances, Achilles was eager to fight to avenge the death of his friend. He put the entire Trojan army to flight, made his way to the city walls and was ready to break into Troy through the Scaean Gate. No one dared to stand in his way except Hector, who obeyed the command of honor and duty. Despite all the pleas of his parents, his wife, and the rest of the Trojans, he was left alone in front of the locked gates and challenged Achilles to a duel to the death, with the condition that the body of the vanquished would be given to his friends for burial. Achilles rejected this condition and rushed at Hector. Fear gripped Hector, and he ran around the city walls three times, fleeing from Achilles, who was relentlessly pursuing him. Not only people, but also the gods watched the fight intently. Finally, Zeus threw two lots of death onto the golden scales of fate; Hector's lot fell - his fate was decided.
Athena, who stood on the side of the Achaeans, descended from Olympus to earth and, taking the image of Deiphobus, Hector’s beloved brother, began to persuade the Trojan hero to single combat with Achilles. But as soon as Hector threw his spear at Achilles, Athena disappeared, making it clear to Hector that he had been abandoned by the gods. Hector did not shy away from his fate: “Woe! The almighty gods have called me to death!../But I will not perish in vain, I will not fall into dust without glory;/I will do something great that my descendants will hear!” In a fierce battle worthy of the greatest of heroes, Hector finally fell at the hands of Achilles. Finding a place not protected by armor, Achilles pierced him with a spear.
Further sad events are described in the article “”.
“Of all the characters in the Iliad, Hector evokes the greatest sympathy, both by his character and by his actions,” say the researchers of the Iliad, and they are right. The best episodes of the Homeric epic are dedicated to him: Hector’s farewell to his son, Hector’s duel with Achilles and Priam’s plea for the release of Hector’s body are among the highest peaks of world poetry.
Even the best depictions of Hector in sculpture and painting are far from the expressiveness of the image of this hero as presented by Homer. The following subjects were common in ancient sculpture and vase painting: “Hector’s farewell to Andromache,” “Hector’s duel with Achilles,” “Duel with Ajax,” “Achilles dragging Hector’s body.” Among the works of European masters, noteworthy are Thorvaldsen’s marble relief “Hector’s Farewell to Andromache” (1837) and the painting by J.-L. David's "Dead Hector" (1788).
At the end of the 18th century. The tragedy “Hector” was written by Ya. B. Knyazhnin, in 1780 I. F. Schiller wrote the poem “Farewell to Hector”.
Despite the greatness and tragedy of his fate, Hector did not become the main character of either ancient drama or poetic work. And among modern authors this happened less often than the image of Hector deserves. Nevertheless, for almost three thousand years now he has acted as a genuine knight without fear or reproach in all works dedicated to the Trojan War - from Homer to the present day.
, Gehlen
The protagonist of the tragedies of Euripides “Alexander”, Pseudo-Euripides “Res”, Astydamas the Younger “Hector”, the tragedy of Naevius “Hector the Departing”.
The asteroid (624) Hector, discovered in 1907, is named in honor of Hector.
In popular culture In medieval France, where modern playing cards (“classical” or “French”) appeared around the 14th century, “pictures” (cards with characters - kings, queens and jacks) were associated with certain historical or legendary characters. The Jack of Diamonds matched Hector.
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Excerpt characterizing Hector
On the same evening, as the prince gave orders to Alpatych, Desalles, having demanded a meeting with Princess Marya, informed her that since the prince was not entirely healthy and was not taking any measures for his safety, and from Prince Andrei’s letter it was clear that he was staying in Bald Mountains If it is unsafe, he respectfully advises her to write a letter with Alpatych to the head of the province in Smolensk with a request to notify her about the state of affairs and the extent of the danger to which Bald Mountains are exposed. Desalle wrote a letter to the governor for Princess Marya, which she signed, and this letter was given to Alpatych with the order to submit it to the governor and, in case of danger, to return as soon as possible.Having received all the orders, Alpatych, accompanied by his family, in a white feather hat (a princely gift), with a stick, just like the prince, went out to sit in a leather tent, packed with three well-fed Savras.
The bell was tied up and the bells were covered with pieces of paper. The prince did not allow anyone to ride in Bald Mountains with a bell. But Alpatych loved bells and bells on a long journey. Alpatych's courtiers, a zemstvo, a clerk, a cook - black, white, two old women, a Cossack boy, coachmen and various servants saw him off.
The daughter placed chintz down pillows behind him and under him. The old lady's sister-in-law secretly slipped the bundle. One of the coachmen gave him a hand.
- Well, well, women's training! Women, women! - Alpatych said puffingly, patteringly exactly as the prince spoke, and sat down in the tent. Having given the last orders about the work to the zemstvo, and in this way not imitating the prince, Alpatych took off his hat from his bald head and crossed himself three times.
- If anything... you will come back, Yakov Alpatych; For Christ’s sake, have pity on us,” his wife shouted to him, hinting at rumors about war and the enemy.
“Women, women, women’s gatherings,” Alpatych said to himself and drove off, looking around at the fields, some with yellowed rye, some with thick, still green oats, some still black, which were just beginning to double. Alpatych rode along, admiring the rare spring harvest this year, looking closely at the strips of rye crops on which people were beginning to reap in some places, and made his economic considerations about sowing and harvesting and whether any princely order had been forgotten.
Having fed him twice on the way, by the evening of August 4th Alpatych arrived in the city.
On the way, Alpatych met and overtook convoys and troops. Approaching Smolensk, he heard distant shots, but these sounds did not strike him. What struck him most was that, approaching Smolensk, he saw a beautiful field of oats, which some soldiers were mowing, apparently for food, and in which they were camping; This circumstance struck Alpatych, but he soon forgot it, thinking about his business.
All the interests of Alpatych’s life for more than thirty years were limited by the will of the prince alone, and he never left this circle. Everything that did not concern the execution of the prince’s orders not only did not interest him, but did not exist for Alpatych.
Alpatych, having arrived in Smolensk on the evening of August 4th, stopped across the Dnieper, in the Gachensky suburb, at an inn, with the janitor Ferapontov, with whom he had been in the habit of staying for thirty years. Ferapontov, twelve years ago, with the light hand of Alpatych, having bought a grove from the prince, began trading and now had a house, an inn and a flour shop in the province. Ferapontov was a fat, black, red-haired forty-year-old man, with thick lips, a thick bumpy nose, the same bumps over his black, frowning eyebrows and a thick belly.
Ferapontov, in a waistcoat and a cotton shirt, stood at a bench overlooking the street. Seeing Alpatych, he approached him.
- Welcome, Yakov Alpatych. The people are from the city, and you are going to the city,” said the owner.
- So, from the city? - said Alpatych.
“And I say, people are stupid.” Everyone is afraid of the Frenchman.
- Women's talk, women's talk! - said Alpatych.
- That’s how I judge, Yakov Alpatych. I say there is an order that they won’t let him in, which means it’s true. And the men are asking for three rubles per cart - there is no cross on them!
Based on Homer's poem "The Iliad".
Meanwhile, Hector entered Troy through the Scaean Gate. Immediately women and children surrounded him and began to ask about their husbands and fathers. But Hector did not tell them anything; he only told them to pray to the Olympian gods. Hector hurried to Priam's palace. His mother Hecabe met Hector in the palace; she wanted to bring wine to Hector so that he would strengthen his strength, but Hector refused. He asked his mother to convene the Trojan women so that they would quickly bring a rich veil as a gift to Pallas Athena, make great sacrifices to the goddess and beg her to tame the ferocious Diomedes. Hekabe immediately fulfilled her son’s request. He quickly went to the halls of Paris.
Hector caught Paris while he was calmly inspecting his weapons; Elena, who had been kidnapped by him, was also here; she distributed work among the maids. Hector began to reproach Paris for sitting idly at home at a time when death threatened all the Trojans. Paris answered Hector that he was preparing for battle, that the beautiful woman was forcing him to enter the battlefield.
Resting Ares. (Statue of the 4th century BC)
Elena. Elena turned to Hector with friendly words and asked him to sit down and take a break from his abusive exploits, while she reproached her husband Paris for his carelessness, for not feeling shame. Elena also complained that so many troubles were sent to Troy because of her, but not through her fault, but through the fault of Paris. But Hector refused to rest in Paris’s house; he was in a hurry to see his wife and son before he returned to battle again. Hector did not know whether he would be able to see his wife and son again, whether he would return alive from the battle, or whether the gods promised him to die at the hands of the Greeks.
Hector went to his palace, but did not find Andromache and her son there. The maids told Hector that his wife, having learned that the Greeks were pushing back the Trojans, ran with her son to the city walls and stood there, shedding tears.
Hector quickly left his palace and hurried to the Skeian Gate. At the very gate he met Andromache, behind her a maid was carrying Hector’s little son, Astyanax; The beautiful child was like the first morning star. She took Hector Andromache by the hand and, shedding tears, said:
Oh my husband! Your courage will destroy you! You don't feel sorry for me or your son. Soon I will be a widow, the Greeks will kill you. It’s better for me not to live, Hector, without you. After all, I have no one but you. After all, you are everything to me - father, mother, and husband. Oh, have mercy on me and my son! Do not go into battle, order the Trojan soldiers to stand by the fig tree, because only there can the walls of Troy be destroyed.
But helmet-shining Hector answered his wife like this:
All this worries me. But it would be a great shame for me to remain outside the walls of Troy and not participate in the battle. No, I must fight ahead of everyone for the glory of my father. I know for sure that the day will come when sacred Troy will perish. But this is not what saddens me, what saddens me is your fate, the fact that some Greek will take you captive, and there in a foreign land you will be a slave weaving for a foreign woman “to carry water for her.” They will see you crying there and say: “This is the wife of Hector, who surpassed all the Trojan heroes in strength and courage,” and then your sadness will become even stronger. No, it’s better that they kill me before I see how they take you captive, than that I hear your cry.
Having said this, Hector approached his son and wanted to hug him, but little Astyanax clung to the nanny’s chest with a cry; he was frightened by the horse’s mane fluttering on Hector’s helmet. Andromache and Hector smiled tenderly at the baby. Hector took off his helmet, laid it on the ground, took Astyanax in his arms and kissed him. Hector raised his son high to the sky and thus prayed to the thunderer Zeus and all the immortal gods:
Oh, Zeus, and you, immortal gods! I pray you, send that my son will be as famous among the citizens as I am. May he be mighty and may he reign in Troy. Let them someday say about him, when he returns from battle, that he surpasses his father in courage. May he crush his enemies and bring joy to his mother’s heart.
So Hector prayed to the gods. Then he gave Astyanax to his wife. Andromache pressed her son to her chest and smiled at him through her tears. Hector was touched, he affectionately hugged Andromache and said to her:
Don't be so sad, Andromache. None of the heroes will send me to the kingdom of gloomy Hades against the dictates of fate. No one escapes his fate: neither the brave nor the coward. Go home, beloved, take up weaving, yarn, and look after the maids. And we, men, will take care of military affairs, and I will take care of them most of all.
Hector put on his helmet and quickly went to the Skei Gate. Andromache also went home, but she often turned around and watched through her tears as Hector walked away. When she returned home, crying, all the maids cried with her: they did not hope that Hector would return home unharmed from the battle.
Paris caught up with Hector at the Skei Gate. He hurried into battle, sparkling with copper armor.
“My brother,” Hector told him, “I know that no just person can help but appreciate your exploits, but you are often reluctant to go into battle. I am often tormented when I hear the Trojans scolding you. But let's hurry quickly to the troops.
The Trojan and Achaean squads continued to fight with the same ferocity, and soon the Achaeans began to prevail, the Trojans were ready to flee to the city. Then the wise bird fortuneteller Helen began to convince his brother Hector to go hastily to the city and force their mother Hecuba and other noble Trojan women to ask for help from Pallas Athena - may the goddess have mercy on wives and innocent babies and repel the stormy warrior Diomedes from Troy. Hector listened to his brother and, having once again bypassed the ranks of the Trojans and inflamed their spirits into battle, he hastily went into the city.
At that time, the Lycian Glaucus, the son of Hippolochus, the grandson of Bellerophon, and Tidides Diomedes met each other on the battlefield. Diomedes met Glaucus with these words: “Who are you, valiant warrior? I have never met you before in battles; today you surpass everyone in courage - you dare to resist my spear. If you are a god who descended from Olympus, I do not dare to enter into battle with the immortal “If you are a mortal man, come closer - you will sooner descend into the kingdom of death.” Glaucus answered: “Valiant son of Tydeus! Why are you asking me about my race and origin? The sons of men are like leaves in an oak forest: the wind knocks down some and carries them across the earth, and the oak trees, blossoming in the spring, give birth to others. If you want to know about my family, Listen: Sisyphus once lived in Corinth, famous for his wisdom; he had a grandson, Bellerophon, who defeated the chimera. Bellerophon was my grandfather." When Diomedes heard this, he rejoiced, thrust his spear into the ground and greeted Glaucus like this: “Son of Hippolochus! You are an old friend to me; my grandfather Frost treated the valiant Bellerophon for twenty days, and at that time they exchanged expensive gifts with each other: Bellerophon gave to my grandfather golden cup; I keep that cup in my house to this day. From now on you and I are friends and will never again enter into battle with each other: there will be many Trojans for me, many Achaeans for you. Let's exchange armor: let everyone know that we We are proud of our friendship since the times of our forefathers." Then they jumped off their chariots, held hands and swore friendship. Glaucus gave Diomedes his gold armor, and took his copper ones from him.
Hector, meanwhile, approached the Skeian Gate. Here the Trojan wives and virgins surrounded him in a crowd and began to ask about their children and brothers, spouses and friends. He ordered them all to pray to the immortals and hurried to the luxurious house of his father Priam. At his father’s house, his elderly mother met the hero, took him by the hand and said: “Why did you, my son, leave the battlefield? It’s true that the hated Achaean men are pressing you hard, and you came here from the Trojan castle to raise your hands to Zeus? Wait.” , I will bring you a cup of wine: make a libation to Zeus and other immortals, and then drink it yourself; wine gives a lot of strength to a husband exhausted by work." Hector answered his mother: “Do not bring me wine, revered mother: I will become weak from wine and lose courage; I will not dare to pour libations to Zeus with unwashed, blood-covered hands. Gather, mother, noble Trojan women and go with fragrant incense to the temple of Pallas Athena, put on her knees a robe, the best of all that are kept in our house, and make a vow before the goddess - sacrifice twelve one-year-old, immaculate heifers to her, if only she will have mercy on the city, our wives and innocent babies, if she repels the stormy Troy destroyer Diomedes. I will go to Paris and challenge him from home to battle if he listens to my words. May he be devoured by the earth! To the destruction of the Three, Priam and all of us, the sons of Priam, Zeus created him. It seems that if he saw him descending to Hades, I would forget all the disasters."
Hecuba fulfilled the will of her son: she took luxurious clothes to the temple of Pallas - the best of all that she had in her house, and made a vow of sacrifice; but the goddess did not heed the pleas of the Trojan women. Hector came to the house of Paris, which stood not far from the houses of Priam and Hector himself. Entering the door, Hector saw Paris, idle, cleaning and testing his armor; next to him sits the Argive Elena, surrounded by attendants, weaving. Looking at him, Hector began to reproach him with the following speeches: “You, unfortunate one, got angry at the wrong time, and left the battlefield, sat down at home: now the people are dying in battle with enemies, the battle is going on right under the walls of the city; and because of you, it began "This war, because of you, disastrous battles began. You yourself would begin to reproach anyone who would leave the battle and sit quietly at home. Go into battle before the Achaeans set fire to the city!" Paris answered him: “Your reproaches are fair, Hector; it’s not because I’m sitting at home because I’m angry with the Trojans, sadness crushed me. Now my wife encouraged me and sent me into battle - I agree to go. Wait a little, I’ll put on my armor; Otherwise, go, I’ll catch up with you.” Hector didn’t say a word to him in response; Elena turned to him with affection and humbly said to him: “Dear brother-in-law! It would have been better for me, the shameless cause of disasters, to have died on the day when my mother gave birth to me; if a stormy wind had whisked me off that day to a deserted mountain or thrown me into the depths of the sea, such troubles would not have happened then! Or may the gods give me a better husband as a wife, capable of feeling shame in front of people: this one is frivolous now, and will always be so, and he will pay for his lazy carelessness. But if you came to us "And sit down, calm down: you have more worries and labors than anyone else - all because of me, shameless, and because of the guilt of Paris. Kronion sent us an evil fate: and after death our descendants will remember us with inglorious songs." Hector answered her: “Don’t ask me to sit down; my heart draws me to go to the aid of the Trojans: they are impatiently waiting for my return to the battlefield; hurry up your husband, let him catch up with me in the city - I’ll go home for a while, take a look at my family, wife and son: who knows whether I will return to them from the battle."
With these words, Hector left. But he did not find Andromache at home: hearing that the Achaeans were defeating the Trojans, she, with her son and nurse, hurriedly went to the Scaean Gate and from the tower looked at the battlefield, groaning and shedding tears. When Hector, on his way back from Troy, approached the Scaean Gate (the road from the city to the field went through it), Andromache hurried to meet him; The nurse walked behind her, holding a baby in her arms - the son of Hector Astyanax. Hector looked at his son with a silent smile; Andromache, in tears, approached her husband, took him by the hand and began to speak to him in the following words: “Hard-hearted, you do not spare either your baby son or your unhappy wife; soon I will be a widow: soon the Achaeans will kill you, they will attack you all together. It’s better. I must then go down to Hades: if I lose you, there will be no joy for me; I will only have to endure sorrows. I have neither father nor mother: Achilles killed my father on the day when Thebes took and ravaged; Thebes fell by his hand and brothers - all seven brothers, every single one, were killed by Achilles; soon after death struck my mother too. You are the only one I have now, you are everything to me: father, and mother, and my brother, and husband. Have pity on me, Hector, stay here on the tower; do not make your son an orphan and me a widow! Place your army there, on the hill, under the fig trees: in this place it is easiest for enemies to climb the walls." Hector answered her affectionately: “All this worries me too, dear wife; I would only be ashamed to look at every Trojan, every Trojan woman, if I, like a coward, withdrew from the battle and, idle, began to look at him from afar ". I cannot do this: I am used to fighting in the front ranks of the Trojans, gaining glory for my father and for myself. My heart prophesies: the day will come when sacred Ilion will turn to dust, Priam and the people of the spear-thrower Priam will perish. But the future does not crush me like that grief of the Trojans, the fate of my decrepit mother, father and brothers, like your bitter fate: the Achaeans will take you crying as a captive, you will be a slave, weaving for a foreigner and carrying water; someone will see you shedding tears and say: “Behold, look, the wife of Hector, who surpassed in courage all the Trojans who fought at the walls of Ilion,” she will say and awaken new sorrow in you: then you will remember the husband who would protect you from slavery, who would save you from bitter need. No, it’s better that I die “Let them cover me with earth before I see you in captivity and hear your groans!”
Hector's farewell to Andromache. Painting by S. Postnikov, 1863
So he spoke and wished to hug his baby son. But the baby was frightened and fell to the nurse: the shine of the copper armor and the shaggy mane on his father’s helmet were scary to him. Father and mother smiled; Hector took off the helmet from his head and laid it on the ground, then, taking his son in his arms, began to kiss him and rock him and prayed to Zeus and the other immortals: “Zeus and all of you, immortal gods! May my son, like me, be famous in the Trojan people, may he, like me, be strong in strength and may he reign powerfully over Ilion! When, to the joy of his mother, he returns from battles, burdened with rich booty, let them say about him: he surpasses even his father! " Having said this, he handed his son into the arms of his wife; smiling through her tears, Andromache hugged the baby to her chest. Embarrassed and touched, Hector hugged his wife and, caressing her, told her: “Don’t crush your heart with grief: against fate, a person will not take my life, but no one on earth has managed to escape fate. Go home, take up textiles and yarn, leave the military business for the men: let the men take care of the war, and of the Trojans I am more than all the others.” Having said this, he picked up his helmet from the ground, and Andromache, silent, walked towards the house, often looking back and shedding bitter tears. When she came to her home and the servants saw her in tears, her sadness touched them all, and they began to mourn Hector, as if he had already been killed by the Danaans.
Paris did not keep him waiting for long. Dressed in lush, shiny armor, he quickly walked through the streets of Troy - like a cheerful horse that had broken free from its leash and was running towards a cool river. He caught up with his brother at a time when Hector had just parted with his wife, and both of them, blazing with courage, rushed to the battlefield. The Trojans rejoiced when they saw both heroes together and were filled with courage. The battle flared up again.
Seeing that the battle had resumed with greater ferocity than before, the goddess Athena rushed from Olympus to Troy; At the ancient Zeus oak she met her brother Apollo. They began to talk among themselves and decided to put an end to the bloodshed that day, to force Hector to go face to face with the bravest of the Achaeans. Priam's son Helen, a wise soothsayer, saw in his spirit the will of the gods and communicated it to his brother Hector. Hector willingly agreed to single combat. Having calmed down, the warriors of both armies sat down on the ground, and Pallas Athena and Phoebus, taking the form of hawks, flew up to the tall oak tree of Zeus. At that time, Hector stepped out into the middle of the battlefield and with a loud voice began to challenge a hunter from the Danaans to engage in single combat with him. The Achaeans sat in deep silence; They were ashamed to reject Hector’s challenge and afraid to accept it. Finally, Menelaus stood up from his seat and, full of anger at the timidity of his comrades, began to hastily put on his battle armor, but Agamemnon grabbed him by the hand and kept him from single combat with Hector. Nestor began to reproach and shame the Achaean leaders, and such was the power of his speeches that nine of the host of leaders stood up at once and expressed their readiness to go into battle with Hector: Agamemnon was the first to volunteer, then Diomedes, both Ajax, Idomeneo and his comrade-in-arms Merion; behind them are Eurypylus, Thoas and Odysseus. They cast lots, and the lot fell to Telamonides Ajax. The stern Ajax smiled and, putting on battle armor, stepped forward, like Ares, shaking a long spear and covering his chest with a copper shield. Looking at the powerful fighter, the Argives rejoiced, but the Trojans were filled with fear and trembling; even Hector’s own heart began to beat, but he could not retreat now, for he himself challenged Ajax to single combat.
When the fighters got closer to each other, Ajax exclaimed in a menacing voice: “Now you will know, Hector, that in the Achaean army, besides Achilles, there are fighters like lions in courage; well, start the battle.” Hector answered him to this: “Son of Telamon, noble Ajax! Do not test me like a child or like a timid maiden who does not know military affairs. I know warfare, I am experienced in all kinds of battles; I just have no intention of defeating you with cunning, hitting you on the sly, but I come at you openly." And with these words, with a powerful hand, he threw his long spear at Ajax and struck him into a copper shield covered with seven cowhide; six skins were torn by the spear, and the seventh got stuck. After that, Ajax, swinging, launched a spear at the enemy - the spear pierced the shield and armor, and the tunic on his body, and if Hector had not had time to move his body to the side, he would not have avoided black death. The fighters quickly grabbed new spears and rushed at each other like bloodthirsty lions or ferocious boars. Hector struck the middle of Ajax’s shield with his spear, but did not penetrate the shield; the spear point bent, hitting hard copper; Ajax pierced through Priamid’s shield, wounded him in the neck, and black blood streamed from the wound. But Hector did not interrupt the battle; he leaned back, grabbed a huge stone lying in the field, and threw it at the enemy’s shield; Ajax quickly picked up another, even heavier stone and threw it at Hector, pierced his shield and wounded him in the knee - Hector fell onto his back, but did not let go of the shield. Phoebus gave Priamid help: he lifted him to his feet. The fighters rushed at each other with swords in their hands and would have cut each other down if the messengers Idaeus and Talthybius, one from the Trojans, the other from the Greeks, had not separated them in time; The messengers extended the scepters between the fighters, and Ideus convinced them with the following speeches: “End the battle, children; both of you are equally kind to Zeus, both are brave fighters - we all know this. But the night is approaching, submit to the night.” “What you said, messenger,” answered Ajax, told Hector to say: he challenged me to a duel, let him finish it; if he wishes, I am ready to submit.” This is how Hector answered the words of Ajax: “Son of Telamon, Ajax! One of the immortals gave you greatness, and powerful strength, and intelligence - you are the most glorious fighter among the Achaeans. Let’s finish the fight today, then we’ll come together and fight again and we’ll be fight until the gods give one of us victory. Night has approached - let us submit to the night. Let us disperse now, let us go and give joy to our neighbors who tremble for us. But before we disperse, we will honor each other; let both the Trojans and Achaeans: the heroes fought, burning with mutual enmity, but separated, reconciled by friendship." With these words, Hector gave Ajax his sword with a silver hilt, along with the sword - both the scabbard and the precious belt; Ajax handed him his purple belt. So the fighters separated: Ajax went to the Achaean camp, Hector to the Trojans. And the Trojans led him into the city, rejoicing that he escaped unharmed from the mighty hands of Ajax.
Based on materials from the book by G. Stoll “Myths of Classical Antiquity”
Avenge the death of Patroclus! Achilles heard about the death of his friend, and inexpressible grief took possession of him; He fell to the ground and began to tear the hair on his head out of grief. He wanted only one thing now: to defeat Hector, to avenge the death of Patroclus. Thetis came out to him from the sea, persuaded him, tried to console him - Achilles did not listen to anything, his heart thirsted for revenge.
Meanwhile, the battle continued, it was hard for the Greeks, Ajax barely held off Hector’s onslaught, and the Trojans had already completely captured the body of Patroclus. Achilles found out about this and went to the wall of the Greek camp. He was unarmed, but the Trojans were afraid of his very appearance; when he uttered a menacing cry, horror seized the enemies, they turned back and fled. The Greeks carried the body of Patroclus out of the battle, placed it on a stretcher and, with loud crying, carried it to the tent of Achilles. They washed Patroclus, anointed him with expensive incense, and laid him on a richly decorated bed. Achilles mourned his friend all night.
Hephaestus forges armor for Achilles. Thetis realized that her son urgently needed armor, and rushed to Olympus, to the palace of Hephaestus. He was an unsurpassed blacksmith; he respected and honored Thetis. She once saved this god from the wrath of Hera and knew that he would not refuse her anything. Thetis asked her to forge armor for her son overnight. God agreed and immediately got to work. By morning the armor was ready; people have never seen anything like it. They shone like a bright flame, and on the shield were depicted earth and sky, sea and stars, cities, people, animals. Only God could create such beauty.
As soon as dawn broke, Thetis brought armor to Achilles. He decided to immediately go into battle with the Trojans. But before that, he gathered the Greeks to a public meeting, and there they were reconciled with Agamemnon. The king admitted that he was wrong before Achilles, handed over all the gifts he promised, and returned Briseis.
The start of the fight. The Greeks came out into the field, their ranks were formidable and courageous. Achilles also rode out into the field in his chariot, his eyes burned with anger, but his heart was filled with sadness. Zeus and the gods allowed to participate in the battle: Hera, Athena, Poseidon, Hermes and Hephaestus immediately joined the Greeks; Artemis, Aphrodite, Ares and Apollo sided with the Trojans.
And so the troops converged. Such a battle has never happened under the walls of Troy! After all, not only people fought in it, the gods themselves fought with each other! Achilles raged like a raging fire. His hands were covered in blood, his shields, helmets, and bodies were crushed under the hooves of his horses. He knew no mercy; no one could escape the destructive spear of Achilles. There was no way he could meet only with Hector - each time Apollo shrouded the Trojan hero in darkness and deflected blows from him. But Hector’s hour struck, Apollo was unable to change his fate and stepped aside.
Hector and Achilles were left alone. Fear took possession of the son of Priam, and he rushed to run around the walls of Troy; Achilles rushed after him like a hawk. The heroes ran around the city three times, and then Pallas Athena appeared to Achilles, ordered him to stop and promised victory over Hector. She took the form of Deiphobus, Hector's brother, and convinced him to fight Achilles, promising to help in the battle. Hector stopped and turned to meet his mortal enemy. But before starting the battle, he said, turning to Achilles: “One of us is destined to die in a duel. I promise not to dishonor your body if the Thunderer gives you victory. Promise me too!” Achilles answered him menacingly: “No! An agreement between us is impossible, just as it is impossible between people and lions or sheep and wolves! There is no salvation for you! Will you pay me for the shed blood of Patroclus!”
Achilles wins. With his mighty hand, Achilles threw a spear at Hector, but the Trojan hero fell to the ground and avoided the fatal blow. In turn, Hector’s spear flew at Achilles, but bounced off the shield forged by Hephaestus like a light reed. Hector extended his hand to Deiphobus to take another spear, but his hand remained empty, there was no one behind him, he found himself alone with a formidable enemy. Hector understood that the gods had doomed him to death, but the mighty hero did not want to die ingloriously; He grabbed the sword from its sheath and rushed at Achilles. Achilles rushed towards him with a spear in his hand. Hit! And the helmet-shining Hector falls to the ground. He was wounded to death by the spear of Achilles. Hector only had time to say: “I conjure you, Achilles, with your life and your family: do not give my body to be torn to pieces by dogs, return it to my father and mother, they will give you an incalculable ransom for it.” - “It’s in vain that you beg me! - answered Achilles. “I would have torn you to pieces myself if I had succumbed to the anger burning within me!” No one will drive the dogs away from your body; your father Priam and mother Hecuba will never mourn for it!”
He tied Hector's body by the legs to his chariot and, with a cry of victory, drove it along the walls of Troy. All the Trojans sobbed loudly, seeing how the stones were tearing apart the body of the one who had recently been the support of Troy, its main hope.
Priam asks for Hector's body. Having defeated Hector, Achilles arranged a magnificent funeral for Patroclus. The hero's funeral pyre burned all night, and the Achaeans built a high mound over his ashes. But Hector’s body remained unburied. The gods didn’t like it - Achilles acted wickedly with the defeated enemy. And so Zeus sent Thetis to his son to convey the will of the immortals, so that he would give Hector’s body to his parents. At the same time, the messenger of Zeus, Iris, went to Priam and ordered Achilles to bring a rich ransom. Hermes himself escorted Priam to the Greek camp, making him invisible to the Greeks. Priam entered Achilles’ tent, fell on his knees in front of him and prayed: “Oh, great Achilles! Remember your father, an old man like me! Perhaps his city is now under siege by enemies, and there is no one to protect it. I lost almost all my sons, so Hector was struck down by your hand! Have pity on me! I’m already killed and humiliated, because there is no more bitter torment than kissing the hands of the murderer of my children!”
Achilles remembered his father and thought that he himself was soon destined to die. Achilles wept bitterly, and the two of them wept together, each about his own grief.
And then Achilles ordered to wash Hector’s body and dress him in precious clothes. He promised Priam that the Greeks would not resume battle for as long as it took the Trojans to bury their greatest hero, and he released the Trojan king in peace. The Trojans wept loudly when Priam rode into the city gates with the body of his son in a chariot. Everyone cried, even Elena herself! No one loved her in Troy, only she did not hear a single evil word from Hector, and now her only friend died. The Trojans buried their mighty defender, and it became clear that the days of the great city were numbered.
Death of Achilles. Achilles burned with terrible anger, he fought daily with the Trojans, sent the souls of many heroes to gloomy Hades, but he was not destined to take the city. Soon after the death of Hector, when Achilles was exterminating the Trojans at the very gates of the fortress, Apollo appeared to Paris. The prince did not participate in the battle; he was afraid of Achilles. He stood on the city wall with a bow in his hands and from there struck the Achaeans with arrows. Many fell from the arrows fired by Paris. Only one Achilles they did not take: after all, he was invulnerable. Apollo knew that only the heel could defeat Achilles, and he directed the flight of the arrow to the right place. It whistled in the air and pierced the hero’s heel. Achilles fell to the ground. The Trojans rushed at him, but the hero managed to rise and destroy many more enemies, and then his last strength left him; and he fell again, this time forever. A brutal slaughter began to boil around his body. Just as Patroclus was recently carried out of battle, so now Achilles was also carried out. He was carried by the mighty Ajax, and defended by Odysseus, fighting off the Trojans.
Achilles was buried in the same place as Patroclus; The Muses themselves sang a funeral hymn in his memory. The mound was built even higher; it was visible far from the sea, testifying to the glory of the heroes who died under it.
Dispute over Achilles' armor. Achilles left behind wonderful armor. Thetis ordered to give them to the one who distinguished himself the most by protecting his body. But who - Ajax or Odysseus? A dispute arose between the heroes, and they decided to resolve it by drawing lots. Menelaus and Agamemnon cheated, changed the lot of Ajax, and Odysseus received the armor. Ajax was saddened. He went to his tent, planning to take revenge on his offenders.
At night, when the entire Achaean camp was plunged into deep sleep, he came out of his tent with a naked sword in his hand and went to the tents of Agamemnon and Menelaus, intending to kill them. But at that moment, Pallas Athena, who did not want the death of her favorites, unleashed madness on him, and the mighty Ajax mistook a herd of bulls for his enemies. Ajax furiously attacked the bulls and began to destroy them, thinking that he was torturing the offenders. When morning came, the hero's mind cleared. He saw that his tent was filled with dead animals. Ajax was horrified and decided to wash away the shame with blood. He retired to the seashore and there he threw himself on the sword. At first Agamemnon and Menelaus did not want to arrange a solemn burial of Ajax, but Odysseus convinced them not to harbor evil after the death of the hero, who had provided so many services to the Greeks. A new burial mound grew next to the mound of Achilles and Patroclus, and the ashes of the mighty Ajax rested under it.
