Editing Hecuba (section)

=== Hecuba in the ''Iliad'' ===

[[Image:Hector brought back to Troy.jpg|thumb|The death of Hector on a Roman sarcophagus, c. 200 AD]]

Hecuba appears six times in the ''Iliad''. In Book 6.326–96, she meets Hector upon his return to the city and offers him the libation cup, instructing him to offer it to Zeus and to drink from it himself. Taking Hector's advice, she chooses a gown taken from Alexander's treasure to give as an offering to the goddess and leads the Trojan women to the temple of [[Athena]] to pray for help. In Book 22, she pleads with Hector not to fight [[Achilles]], expressing her premonition of "never get[ting] to mourn you laid out on a bier."<ref>Homer, ''The Iliad.'' Book 22, line 86</ref> In Book 24.201–16, she is stricken with anxiety upon hearing of Priam's plan to retrieve Hector's body from Achilles' hut. Further along in the same episode, at 24.287–98, she offers Priam the libation cup and instructs him to pray to Zeus so that he may receive a favourable omen upon setting out towards the Achaean camp.  Unlike in the first episode in which Hector refuses her offer of the cup, Priam accepts and is rewarded with the requested omen. Finally, she laments Hector's death in a well-known speech at 24.748–59.
[[File:Hecuba and Polyxena LACMA 73.3.jpg|thumb|''Hecuba and Polyxena'' by Merry-Joseph Blondel ]]