The Iliad : Death of Hector

About Book 20 of the IIiad : Death of Hector

1. The Iliad The Iliad
Book 22 : Death of Hector

2. Plot Summary Plot Summary
Hector confronts him. At first, the mighty Trojan considers trying to
negotiate with Achilles, but he soon realizes the hopelessness of his cause
and flees. He runs around the city three times, with Achilles at his heels.
Zeus considers saving Hector, but Athena persuades him that the mortal's
time has come. Zeus places Hector's and Achilles' respective fates on a
golden scale, and, indeed, Hector's sinks to the ground.
 During Hector's fourth circle around the city walls, Athena appears
before him, disguised as his ally Deiphobus, and convinces him that
together they can take Achilles. Hector stops running and turns to face his
opponent. He and Achilles exchange spear throws, but neither scores a
hit. Hector turns to Deiphobus to ask him for a lance; when he finds his
friend gone, he realizes that the gods have betrayed him. In a desperate
bid for glory, he charges Achilles. However, he still wears Achilles' old
armor—stolen from Patroclus's dead body—and Achilles knows the
armor's weak points intimately. With a perfectly timed thrust he puts his
spear through Hector's throat. Near death, Hector pleads with Achilles to
return his body to the Trojans for burial, but Achilles resolves to let the
dogs and scavenger birds maul the Trojan hero.
Hector also prophesies Achilles death

3. This Book shows the values and This Book shows the values and
religious the Ancient Greeks had religious the Ancient Greeks had
Shows how the Ancient Greeks believed
the Gods and Goddess lived and the
roles they played in society.
The types of heroes that the Greeks
valued.
That the ancient Greeks valued death and
wars

4. The Gods and GoddessThe Gods and Goddess
Gods & Goddess in
this book : Apollo,
Athena and Zeus
“The Greek Gods were
anthropomorphic….they
fought, loved, and
suffered; they liked some
people better than
others; and they had
individual personalities
and character
traits.”(Nelson & Allard-
Nelson 2004, p.73)

5. Roles in this bookRoles in this book
Example what roles the
Ancient Greeks thought
the Gods and Goddess had
during wars and that they
favoured sides.
Ancient Greeks thought
the Gods and Goddess
appreciated offers and that
were made to them and it
give you favour.
Shows that the Greeks
thought it was the Gods
who controlled destiny
Gods and Goddess favour
certain people.
An example of the
Gods favouring one
person would be these
words of Zeus in the
Iliad “This is an unhappy
business! I have a warm
place in my heart for this
man who is being chased
before my eyes round the
walls of Ilium. I grieve for
Hector. He has burnt the
things of many oxen in my
honor” (Rieu 1950, p.85)

6. Hector & Achilles Hector & Achilles
Hector is fighting to
protect his country
and family
Achilles is fighting for
glory and revenge
Duel the two both
show heroic qualities
and they are both
the best fighters of
the two sides

7. Heroic qualities Heroic qualities
The final duel between Achilles
and Hector becomes not only a
duel of heroes but heroic values
Achilles fighting style is God like
which is also a heroic quality.
He is also part God.
Hector is motivated by the fact
he wants to kill Achilles because
he has killed many of his family
members and country man and
wants to stop him from kill more
Trojans though he flees when he
returns to fight he fights for
glory and goes down fighting
which is very symbolic of heroes.
“Many Greeks considered Homeric
texts a source of moral examples
and ideals.” (Nelson & Allard-
Nelson 2004, p.73).

8. What this shows us about Greek What this shows us about Greek
society society
So therefore the duel
between Hector and
Achilles shows the types
of heroes the Ancient
Greeks idolized.
The Iliad help inspired
Alexander the Great.
What he should model
himself to be
This shows that the
Greeks valued the
morals and ideals of the
Iliad.

9. Ancient Greeks valued death and Ancient Greeks valued death and
warswars
Hector dying in the
duel is shown to be a
hero’s death and the
best way to die.
While Hector dies in
this scene, the values
that he represents-
nobility, self-respect
arguably survive him.
“My doom has come
upon me; let me not
then die ingloriously
and without a struggle,
but let me first do
some great thing that
shall be told among
men hereafter.”( The
Iliad, Book XVIII ,Line
483,)

10. Examples of this Values shown in Examples of this Values shown in
this Book in Greek society this Book in Greek society
Battle of
Thermopylae – 300
Spartans
Would rather die in
battle then run away
or surrender
So Hector going back
to fight shows that
value

11. Conclusion Conclusion
Book 22 of the Iliad is a reflection of Ancient
Greek society because it shows the religious
beliefs and values they had in their society. The
Book 22: The Death of Hector is an example of
how the Iliad represents the religious beliefs and
the values, it shows that Greeks believed that the
God and Goddess played an important role in
Greek society and that the valued war and death.
This Book of the Iliad arguably shows that the
Ancient Greeks believed the Gods and Goddess
controlled destiny and fates. It also shows the
ancient Greeks valued heroism and war.