Ask someone who has read the poem to name its hero, and the reply will probably be Achilles and, if not, his friend Patroclus or his enemy Hector ... instance is when Priam, the king of Troy ...

An Old Soldier remembers the ten-year war at Troy and the events which led up to it: Paris, Helen, Menelaus, Agamemnon, Priam, Achilles, Patroclus, Hector, Cassandra, Odysseus…and the wooden horse.

When the battle resumes Achilles seeks out Hector and has his vengeance. He drags Hector's body back to the Greek lines and does not return it until some days later when King Priam comes in person ...