Hektor

Hektor, sometimes spelled Hektor or Hector, is a figure in Greek mythology. In most traditions he is a Trojan prince, the eldest son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, and the principal defender of Troy during the Trojan War. He is husband to Andromache and father of Astyanax. As Troy’s chief warrior, Hektor leads Trojan forces against the Greek coalition, kills Patroclus in single combat, and becomes the target of Achilles’ vengeance. In a climactic duel outside the gates of Troy, Achilles kills Hector, an event that contributes to the eventual fall of Troy. Hektor is remembered as a noble but tragic hero, emblematic of martial prowess and family duty.

Historically, the name is rendered Hektor in some languages and contexts, a variant spelling still seen today in German and other tongues. The English name Hector derives from this form. Beyond myth, the name is used in modern fiction and scholarly discourse, and it has been applied to celestial bodies; notably the asteroid 624 Hektor, discovered in 1907, is one of the largest Trojan asteroids in Jupiter’s orbit and is named after the mythic prince.