Book XXII

This section summarizes the book's events and sets the scene with Hector standing alone outside Troy's walls.

Apollo reveals his deception to an enraged Achilles, who then rushes toward Troy, appearing as a terrifying star to Priam.

King Priam begs Hector to come inside the walls, lamenting his many lost sons and foreseeing his own horrific death.

Hecuba joins Priam's plea by baring her breast, but Hector remains resolute, waiting for Achilles like a coiled snake.

Hector weighs his choices: retreat in shame, fight to the death, or attempt a peaceful negotiation he knows is futile.

At the sight of Achilles, Hector loses his nerve and flees, leading to a desperate chase three times around the city.

Jove expresses pity for Hector, but Pallas Athena insists he must die, and Jove reluctantly agrees.

The chase continues like a dream until Jove weighs the heroes' fates in his golden scales, and Hector's side sinks.

Minerva, disguised as Deiphobus, appears at Hector's side and convinces him to stand and fight Achilles together.

Hector confronts Achilles, proposing an oath to respect the victor's body, but Achilles furiously rejects any pacts.

The duel begins; Achilles misses his first throw, but Minerva returns his spear, while Hector's spear is uselessly repelled.

Realizing he is doomed, Hector charges valiantly but is struck down by Achilles' spear through a gap in his armor.

Achilles taunts the dying Hector, who begs for his body to be returned for burial, a plea Achilles savagely denies.

With his last breath, Hector prophesies Achilles' death before the Greeks gather to mock and stab his corpse.

Achilles stands over Hector's body and rallies the Greeks, vowing to remember Patroclus and bring Hector's corpse back in triumph.

Achilles ties Hector's ankles to his chariot and drags his body in the dust, a horrific sight for his parents.

Priam and Hecuba watch in horror from the walls, with Priam trying to run out to the killer and Hecuba mourning her son.

Unaware of the tragedy, Andromache is working at her loom when the sounds of mourning reach her from the walls.

Reviving, Andromache delivers a heart-wrenching lament for her husband and foresees a grim future for their orphaned son, Astyanax.