Hector - Hector (English spelling)

A hero in Greek mythology. The greatest warrior on the Trojan side in the Trojan War, sung about in Homer's epic poem, the Iliad. The eldest son of Trojan king Priam and Hecuba. He was rugged but had a strong sense of responsibility, and although he cursed his brother Paris for kidnapping the beautiful Helen from Greece and causing the war, he was always on the front lines and was praised for singlehandedly protecting and supporting Troy. While Achilles of the Greek side was away from the battle line due to a personal grudge against the commander-in-chief, Agamemnon, Hector drove the Greek army back to the seashore and even killed Achilles' best friend Patroclus, which prompted Achilles to return to the battle line. His parents desperately pleaded with their son to escape from the Trojan walls, but Hector stayed and met Achilles, and was defeated in a decisive battle. Achilles drove a leather strap through Hector's heel and dragged the body around in his chariot, but the gods prevented any damage to the body.

The tender scene between his wife Andromache and the infant Astheanax (Iliad, Book VI) before he sets off in single combat with Ajax is particularly beautiful.

[Tetsuro Nakatsuka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ギリシア神話の英雄。ホメロスの叙事詩『イリアス』に歌われるトロヤ戦争におけるトロヤ方最大の勇士。トロヤ王プリアモスとヘカベの長男。無骨だが責任感が強く、ギリシアから美女ヘレネを奪い帰って戦争の原因をつくった弟パリスをののしりながらもつねに前線にたち、トロヤを1人で守り支えたとたたえられる。ギリシア方のアキレウスが、総大将アガメムノンに対する私怨(しえん)から戦列を離れている間、彼はギリシア軍を海辺まで撃退し、アキレウスの親友パトロクロスをも討ち取ったが、そのことがアキレウスの戦列復帰を促す結果となった。トロヤ城壁の上から息子に逃げてくれるよう両親が必死で嘆願したが、ヘクトルは踏みとどまってアキレウスを迎え、ついに決戦となって倒される。アキレウスはヘクトルの踵(かかと)に革紐(かわひも)を貫き、死体を戦車で引き回したが、神々がその死体の損傷を防いだ。

　また彼がアイアスとの一騎打ちに出かける前に、妻のアンドロマケと幼児アステアナクスとの間で交わす思いやりの場面（『イリアス』第六歌）はことに美しい。

［中務哲郎］

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