Would Prince Hector had defeated Achilles if Achilles wouldnt have been protected by the Greek gods?

Question

I have read the Iliad 3 times, and to me it seems, that Prince Hector was the better man and the protagonist. Achilles really only appears in the beginning and at the end. Hector killed Achaens like Raid kills cockroaches. Had he not been tricked by Pallas Athena, I think Hector could have defeated that cocky q***r. What do you guys think?

Answer 1

Both of them were parted by the gods. Hector was defeated because Athena tricked him as his fellow comrade. And he's the hero of the Illiad and not Achilles. Hope you understand it well. Further reading, read Mythology by Edith Hamilton if you don't get what I'm trying to say.

Answer 2

No. Achilles was semi-god, while Hector was not. His angle was only vulnerable and Hector didn't know. Of course both heros were favoured by gods. And actually Homer presents Hector and not Achilles as the ideal hero and moral man. But only a god could know how to beat Achilles and so it happened finally: Paris was inspired by Apollo to throw the arrow at Achilles'angle (in Iliad that is not mentioned but in other books).