Was Achilles stronger then Hector

Answer 1

The easiest answer would be that Hercules was the strongest individual, Achilles was the most skilled fighter, and that Alexander the great was the greatest general.

Unfortunately, this answer is far from complete. The question is essentially impossible to answer. In order to answer the question in any meaningful way the sources must be considered, and the sources for these three individuals is woefully inadequate.

Hercules is a purely mythological figure, and (unless one accepts Euhemerus' theory that mythological figures are based on vaguely remembered kings and heroes of the past) has no historical basis. To try to compare a mythological figure to a Alexander the Great, a historical figure, is nonsense.

Achilles is more complicated than Hercules; he may be a mix of myth and legend. Although most of what we know about him is undoubtedly fiction, such as the suggestion that he is the son of Thetis, a nymph. On the other hand, recent archaeological finds in Asia minor have strongly suggested that the siege of Troy actually did occur in the far past (perhaps the 11th century B.C.).

Even Alexander is problematic. Despite being a historical figure, we have no surviving firsthand accounts from his life. Even during his own life he was heavily mythologized, and as a result it is very difficult to separate fact from fiction in the surviving accounts we have of his life.

To sum it up, it has to be Hercules, the son of Zeus. He killed like eight unkillable monsters, and he once held the weight of the entire sky on his solders, and he eventually became a legitimate god. Achilles is skilled and all, but he was killed by an arrow. And while Alexander might be arguably the greatest tactician to have ever lived, and one of the most courageous to boot, he was still just a man.

Answer 2

Achilles won the duel, but Hector was more noble.

Achilles was indeed the better fighter, but hector is the true hero in Homer's and indeed most readers eyes. Hector is far more noble and brave than Achilles.

Hector is both a mighty warrior as well as being a matchless commander, loving husband and father, wise and noble son and a brave brother. He does not approve of the war between the Greeks and Trojans.

Whilst Achilles does defeat Hector in the end, he is not a far superior warrior to Hector. Athena has to help Achilles when he meets Hector on more than one occasion. We are told that Achilles actually feared to meet Hector, and that all the Greeks quailed before him.

Achilles also tells us that in events before the Iliad, Hector met Achilles in battle alone and they fought to a draw. Whiet Achilles undoubtedly fared better, he could not kill Hector.

In another scene when Achilles is on the rampage, Hector meets him, accepts that he is destined to die in the war, but still fights him. He throws his spear at Achilles, and would have seriously wounded or even killed Achilles had Athena not intervened and blown hector's spear away. Athena then helped Achilles charge Hector. Apollo, who loved Hector, then saved him to anger Athena.

In the final confrontation, Hector overcomes his fear of death. He is not scared of Achilles, but that he will never see his loved ones and Ilium again. Achilles misses Hector with his spear, but Athena unfairly returns his spear. Hector does not miss Achilles but strikes his shield. However, he does not have his spear returned, he is only left with his sword, which is no match against a spear. He then charges Achilles like a eagle swoops down upon a hare. Achilles knows his vulnerable spot and targets it.

Hector dies a hero. Achilles is left to be bitter and sad. Achilles turns into a monster with no pity or respect for anyone, not even the Greeks.

Hector is the real hero, Achilles is the main character.