Hecuba (Revenge)
heroQueen of Troy who survived the fall, witnessed the sacrifice of Polyxena, and took savage revenge on the man who murdered her son Polydorus.
The Myth
She went from queen to slave to avenger — and the Greeks were more afraid of her than of any surviving Trojan warrior. Hecuba lost everything: Hector was killed by Achilles, Priam was slaughtered at the altar, Polyxena was sacrificed on Achilles's tomb, and Polydorus was murdered by his Thracian host Polymestor. When she discovered Polydorus's body, she lured Polymestor into her tent with a promise of gold. She and the captive Trojan women blinded him and killed his children. Agamemnon, who controlled her as a slave, chose not to intervene. In Euripides's version, she was eventually transformed into a dog — her rage became literal inhuman savagery.
Parents
Dymas
Symbols
Fun Fact
Euripides shows Hecuba transforming from a model of queenly dignity into an avatar of vengeance in a single play.
Explore Further
Cassandra
heroA Trojan princess blessed with prophecy by Apollo but cursed so that no one would ever believe her...
Cassandra (Curse)
heroTrojan prophetess cursed by Apollo to always speak true prophecies that no one would ever believe.
Hector
heroHector was Troy's greatest warrior, who fought not for glory but to defend his city, wife, and son.
Hecuba
heroHecuba was the queen of Troy who watched her husband, sons, and city destroyed — embodying the...
Paris
heroParis was the Trojan prince whose judgement of three goddesses and abduction of Helen ignited the...
Polydorus of Troy
heroYoungest son of Priam, sent away from Troy with gold for safekeeping, only to be murdered by his...
Polyxena
heroTrojan princess sacrificed on Achilles's tomb after the fall of Troy to appease his ghost.
Achilles
heroThe greatest warrior in the Greek army at Troy, nearly invulnerable thanks to being dipped in the...
Agamemnon
heroAgamemnon led the Greek coalition against Troy but was murdered upon return by his wife...
Priam
heroPriam was the aged king of Troy, father of fifty sons including Hector and Paris, whose night...
Deiphobus
heroTrojan prince who married Helen after Paris was killed, making him the last husband of the most...
Troilus
heroYoung Trojan prince killed by Achilles at the temple of Apollo, whose death was prophesied to seal...