Editing Iliad (section)

=== Trojans ===
'''<u>Hector</u>''' is the eldest son of '''Priam''' and the crown prince of Troy, renowned as the greatest of the Trojan warriors. He is married to '''Andromache''', with whom he has a son, '''Astyanax'''. Hector embodies the ideals of Trojan heroism, valor, and duty to one's family and city. His death at the hands of Achilles marks the beginning of Troy's downfall; unlike Achilles, who struggles with his destiny and the consequences of his rage, Hector is portrayed as a more relatable character, torn between his duty to Troy and his love for his family.

'''<u>Paris</u>''', another son of Priam and brother to Hector, is the cause of the <u>Trojan War</u> through his abduction of '''Helen''', wife of Menelaus of Sparta. Paris is portrayed as less admirable than Hector, often criticized for his preference for love and beauty over martial valor; his judgment in favor of '''Aphrodite''' in the divine contest that led to the war reflects his character's focus on desire and personal satisfaction over duty and honor.

'''<u>Priam</u>''' is the aged king of Troy, father to fifty sons and several daughters, with his many children being the result of his marriage to '''Hecuba''' (as well as several other women).  As the patriarch of Troy, Priam is a figure of sympathy and dignity, deeply respected by Greek audiences; his most poignant scene in the Iliad involves him begging Achilles for the body of his son Hector, demonstrating his deep humanity and the personal costs of the war.

'''<u>Hecuba</u>''' is the queen of Troy, wife of Priam, and mother to Hector and Paris, among others. She is a figure of maternal sorrow and suffering, embodying the tragedy of the war's impact on the Trojan people.

Although not one of Priam's children, '''<u>Aeneas</u>''', a cousin to Hector and Paris, is a significant Trojan noble. The son of '''Anchises''' and the goddess '''Aphrodite''', he is portrayed as a formidable warrior and a leader. According to later Roman mythology, particularly '''Virgil's''' ''Aeneid'', Aeneas survives Troy's fall and goes on to found the kingdom of Rome, making him a pivotal figure in the mythological heritage of the subsequent empire.

'''<u>Andromache</u>''' is Hector's wife, and her scenes with Hector and their son Astyanax are among the most moving in the Iliad. She represents the human cost of the war, especially in her lamentations over Hector's body and her fears for the future of their son.

'''<u>Cassandra</u>''', one of Priam and Hecuba's daughters, is cursed by '''Apollo''' to utter true prophecies that no one will believe; her tragic foresight into Troy's fall and her own fate adds a layer of doom to the narrative.

'''<u>Antenor</u>''' is a Trojan noble known for his wisdom and pragmatism, often advocating for peace (and the return of Helen to her husband in Sparta). He has ties of hospitality with the Achaeans, through Odysseus and Menelaus who visited Troy before the war began.