Poseidon:
Great nephew, it seems that we have been chosen to discuss the death of
the great Trojan hero, Hektor.
Apollo: Yes, uncle, and I am honored to speak with you about this subject.
Poseidon: Let us start from the beginning of the end. I believe that when Hektor killed Patroclus, best friend of Achilles, his fate was sealed.
Apollo: I agree. By killing Patroclus, Hektor decided his future. Because soon after the death of Patroclus, Achilles' rage took over the war.
Poseidon: Yes, Achilles began by slicing through the armies of the strong Trojans. Hundreds died by his hands as he avenged the death of his friend.
Apollo: And as Achilles reached the walls of Troy, he only wanted to see one man. Hektor did not disappoint him.
Poseidon: Hektor knew that he was outmatched by the godlike Achilles but that did not deter him from doing what he knew was right. Hektor stood and fought the powerful Achilles.
Apollo: Not only did he fight valiantly but Hektor also had quite a few triumphant moments.
Poseidon: Nephew, you must be speaking of when brave Hektor hurled a spear that cut Achilles.
Apollo: Yes, uncle, that is exactly what I am speaking of right now. By hurling a spear at Achilles and gashing his forearm, Hektor gave the Trojan people hope. The Trojans began to believe victory was achievable. Unfortunately, this fate was not meant to be.
Poseidon: How true, Apollo. Great Achilles proved unstoppable. His anger erased any physical pain he could ever have and replaced it with an unquenchable thirst for vengeance. Spears were hurled back and forth, both heroes dodging and blocking them with amazing precision.
Apollo: Yes, both fighters showing amazing skill and bravery.
Poseidon: Wait, young Apollo; I believe we neglected to mention Hektor's weakest moments.
Apollo: I don't believe that's important to this story.
Poseidon: Of course you don't, Apollo, that is because you were on the side of the Trojans.
Apollo: Any man would run at the sight of Achilles, even the greatest of men.
Poseidon: Yes, but great Hektor ran four times around those great walls before Pallas Athene, who favored Achilles, persuaded Hektor to stop running and die proudly by facing Achilles.
Apollo: That is true, uncle, but she tricked him by appearing as his brother Deiphobus. When he turned around to face Achilles with his brother, his brother was gone. Even with this trickery, brave Hektor did stand up to Achilles, and he knew he was fated to die at Achilles' hands. Hektor turned and waited for Achilles so he could show his bravery.
Poseidon: Yes, Hektor showed his bravery and as he drew his sword, Achilles started his charge. As he ran, Achilles grasped his spear in his right hand looking for the perfect place to make his final blow. Achilles saw the perfect spot when he noticed the exposed area between Hektor's breast plate and his neck. Lunging forward Achilles plunged his spear into that spot, driving deep into Hektor's body.
Apollo: Importantly, Achilles did not sever Hektor's windpipe, allowing Hektor to make his final appeal for honor. Hektor, now on his knees, begged Achilles to honor his body and return it to his family for a proper burial. Achilles refused and brought upon himself a great curse, but that's another story.
Poseidon: Yes, and in a cruel show of hated and disrespect, Achilles tied Hektor to the back of his chariot and dragged the lifeless body back to the Greek camp.
Authors Note:
I changed the story by telling it from the point of view of the gods who had quite a hand in deciding this war, at least according to Homer. I used Poseidon to represent the Greek side, and I tried to keep him as neutral as possible, which is difficult since all the gods took a very definitive stance in the war. Apollo was used to represent the Trojan side of the conflict. Again, I tried to keep him as diplomatic as possible, but his true view shone through at the end. My stance is a little bit different from most depictions of Greek divinities. In most Greek mythology the gods are fallible and are accustomed to making human errors. I tried to make the gods in this retelling a little more aware of what is right and wrong in the heroes' actions, but I did leave a little typical behavior with the lapse of memory regarding Hektor's initial reaction. I included this story because of the impact it has on both the stories of Priam, Hektor's father, and Achilles, who are both in my future stories.
Bibliography:
Iliad of Homer
Translated by Richard Lattimore
University of Chicago Press copyright 1951
Book 22; pgs 435-446
Net source:
http://www.galileolibrary.com/ebooks/eu01/iliad_page_55.htm
Picture note:
Death of Hektor
Storybook Home
Apollo: Yes, uncle, and I am honored to speak with you about this subject.
Poseidon: Let us start from the beginning of the end. I believe that when Hektor killed Patroclus, best friend of Achilles, his fate was sealed.
Apollo: I agree. By killing Patroclus, Hektor decided his future. Because soon after the death of Patroclus, Achilles' rage took over the war.
Poseidon: Yes, Achilles began by slicing through the armies of the strong Trojans. Hundreds died by his hands as he avenged the death of his friend.
Apollo: And as Achilles reached the walls of Troy, he only wanted to see one man. Hektor did not disappoint him.
Poseidon: Hektor knew that he was outmatched by the godlike Achilles but that did not deter him from doing what he knew was right. Hektor stood and fought the powerful Achilles.
Apollo: Not only did he fight valiantly but Hektor also had quite a few triumphant moments.
Poseidon: Nephew, you must be speaking of when brave Hektor hurled a spear that cut Achilles.
Apollo: Yes, uncle, that is exactly what I am speaking of right now. By hurling a spear at Achilles and gashing his forearm, Hektor gave the Trojan people hope. The Trojans began to believe victory was achievable. Unfortunately, this fate was not meant to be.
Poseidon: How true, Apollo. Great Achilles proved unstoppable. His anger erased any physical pain he could ever have and replaced it with an unquenchable thirst for vengeance. Spears were hurled back and forth, both heroes dodging and blocking them with amazing precision.
Apollo: Yes, both fighters showing amazing skill and bravery.
Poseidon: Wait, young Apollo; I believe we neglected to mention Hektor's weakest moments.
Apollo: I don't believe that's important to this story.
Poseidon: Of course you don't, Apollo, that is because you were on the side of the Trojans.
Apollo: Any man would run at the sight of Achilles, even the greatest of men.
Poseidon: Yes, but great Hektor ran four times around those great walls before Pallas Athene, who favored Achilles, persuaded Hektor to stop running and die proudly by facing Achilles.
Apollo: That is true, uncle, but she tricked him by appearing as his brother Deiphobus. When he turned around to face Achilles with his brother, his brother was gone. Even with this trickery, brave Hektor did stand up to Achilles, and he knew he was fated to die at Achilles' hands. Hektor turned and waited for Achilles so he could show his bravery.
Poseidon: Yes, Hektor showed his bravery and as he drew his sword, Achilles started his charge. As he ran, Achilles grasped his spear in his right hand looking for the perfect place to make his final blow. Achilles saw the perfect spot when he noticed the exposed area between Hektor's breast plate and his neck. Lunging forward Achilles plunged his spear into that spot, driving deep into Hektor's body.
Apollo: Importantly, Achilles did not sever Hektor's windpipe, allowing Hektor to make his final appeal for honor. Hektor, now on his knees, begged Achilles to honor his body and return it to his family for a proper burial. Achilles refused and brought upon himself a great curse, but that's another story.
Poseidon: Yes, and in a cruel show of hated and disrespect, Achilles tied Hektor to the back of his chariot and dragged the lifeless body back to the Greek camp.
Authors Note:
I changed the story by telling it from the point of view of the gods who had quite a hand in deciding this war, at least according to Homer. I used Poseidon to represent the Greek side, and I tried to keep him as neutral as possible, which is difficult since all the gods took a very definitive stance in the war. Apollo was used to represent the Trojan side of the conflict. Again, I tried to keep him as diplomatic as possible, but his true view shone through at the end. My stance is a little bit different from most depictions of Greek divinities. In most Greek mythology the gods are fallible and are accustomed to making human errors. I tried to make the gods in this retelling a little more aware of what is right and wrong in the heroes' actions, but I did leave a little typical behavior with the lapse of memory regarding Hektor's initial reaction. I included this story because of the impact it has on both the stories of Priam, Hektor's father, and Achilles, who are both in my future stories.
Bibliography:
Iliad of Homer
Translated by Richard Lattimore
University of Chicago Press copyright 1951
Book 22; pgs 435-446
Net source:
http://www.galileolibrary.com/ebooks/eu01/iliad_page_55.htm
Picture note:
Death of Hektor
Storybook Home