Achilles and Hector are two characters from Greek mythology that have great similarities, but they also have their differences. The Iliad follows Achilles’ rage against the Trojan army because of his best friend, Patroclus, was killed in battle by Hector. Achilles commands the Myrmidons (his faithful group of soldiers) through many battles until Hector is killed by Achilles himself. Achilles hurls Hector’s lifeless body around the city of Troy three times before leaving his dead body to rot in the sun, without giving him proper burial rites.
Achilles was described as having an unmatched fighting spirit that led Achilles to be one of the best warriors on the Greek side. Achilles also possessed a great hunter and powerful warrior skills that show no born could match Achilles’ strength. On the other hand, Hector fought bravely to defend his home, but he had more political ambition than Achilles did. For example, Hector thought about what should happen after Achilles is defeated because Hector knew he couldn’t defeat Achilles alone so he needed help from others.
That isn’t something Achilles ever really thought about since all he cared about was winning. Achilles’ family ties mainly consist of his mother, Thetis, Achilles did not grow up with a father figure in the picture because Achilles’ father left before Achilles was born. Achilles also has no interest in politics or ruling people after the war is over because Achilles from the beginning knew he would die during the Trojan War.
Achilles had a godly gift for fighting and enjoyed it a little too much which Hector understood even though Hector loved to fight as well it wasn’t really his main focus to begin with. This comparison between Achilles and Hector points out the differences between these two amazing heroes that fought side by side in battle against Troy. They both look at things from different perspectives because their personality varies so much from each other. Achilles is more about his fighting skills and how much he loves to fight while Hector mainly focuses on what should be done after Achilles is defeated.
Achilles realizes that Achilles will die during battle but Hector has a little bit more worry because Achilles will eventually recover from death which is not something Hector can say for himself. Achilles and Hector were the best of friends in The Iliad, even though they had their differences it still did not stop these heroes from working together for a common goal-to destroy Troy. Just like Achilles did when Hector was killed by Achilles, he wanted to kill all of Troy when his friend died at their hands.
Hector and Achilles are two of the most well known characters in Ancient Greek Mythology. They were enemies in The Iliad, written by Homer, but their story begins before Achilles even goes to war against Troy. Hector is Achilles’ cousin, son of the king of Troy, Priam, and brother of Paris. Achilles was born to Peleus and Thetis, a sea nymph. Achilles spends his life growing up on Mount Pelion learning how to fight from Chiron, a centaur who acts as Achilles’ mentor.
Achilles joins Agamemnon’s forces to go to war with Troy because he knows that if he does not help his people, they will be enslaved or killed by the people of Troy who have already attacked Achilles’ home, Phthia . Achilles goes to Troy to fight with Agamemnon against the Trojans. Achilles slays many men in battle before he encounters Hector. Hector is married to Andromache, who Achilles also kills during the siege of Troy, but not before Paris comes into Achilles’ camp and abducts Achilles’ most treasured possession at the time, Briseis.
Achilles is so upset by this loss that he slaughters all of the Trojan prisoners until his closest friend Patroclus returns them in exchange for Achilles giving him back Briseis so she may become a slave again rather than be killed. Achilles honors this request because he does not believe that women are worth fighting over. Later on in the story Achilles encounters Hector once more. Achilles defeats Hector but does not kill him, instead, Achilles uses his spear to tie up Hector so he can keep taking trophies off of the Trojans until Patroclus is killed by Hector.
Achilles returns to battle after the death of Patroclus and kills Hector for good after Achilles finds out that Paris was responsible for Patroclus’ death. Achilles and Hector are two very different characters in The Iliad. Achilles is depicted as a blood thirsty murderer who only cares about warfare while preserving his own life at all costs rather than honor or loyalty like Hector. Achilles never shows remorse for killing; instead, Achilles tries to convince the other soldiers that they should see bloodshed as something beautiful or honorable, Achilles says, “I know how to be brave in war.
I would rather die a noble death and say one last farewell to life than live a long, worthless life” (Homer 92). Achilles does not think that anyone is worth anything unless they are willing to fight for what they want. Achilles decides that Hector should die simply because Hector is the only person Achilles has ever had any real conflict with throughout The Iliad. In contrast Achilles’ cousin Hector shows his love of warfare when he realizes Paris must leave because he fears Achilles will kill him if Achilles sees Paris fighting against him again.
While Achilles fights for honor Hector fights for his family’s safety. This displays the difference between Achilles and Hector as characters within The Iliad. Achilles fights for glory in battle while Hector fights to protect his home, family, and friends. Achilles is very self-centered through out The Iliad, Achilles uses everything around him to his advantage rather than the advantage of others.
Achilles also displays this when he kills Hector because Achilles knows that Achilles taking Hector’s life will hurt King Priam enough to get Achilles the satisfaction of knowing that Achilles has caused all of Priam’s suffering throughout The Iliad (Homer 162). When one looks at the character descriptions of Achilles and Hector they seem like polar opposites; however they are really two sides of a coin with similar objectives but different methods.
Both characters want their people to be safe and both characters want their city to be victorious over the other. Achilles wants to win at all costs whereas Hector wants to win, but is willing to sacrifice his own life for the good of Troy if that is what is required. Achilles and Hector are both self sacrificing characters in The Iliad. Achilles gives up his prize so Patroclus may have Briseis, while Hector gives Achilles back his armor so Achilles can fight with honor not knowing Achilles would kill Hector later on.
