It's not enough for the Trojans to fight bravely on the field of battle. If they're going to prevail against the Achaeans, they're going to need some divine assistance. That's one of the reasons why Hector, breaker of horses, returns to Troy: he needs to get his mother, Hecuba, and some other women of the royal palace to pray at the temple of Athena. Unfortunately, this is largely a waste of time—as Athena is on the side of the Achaeans. The Trojans are blissfully unaware of this, of course, and continue to offer prayers and sacrifices to the goddess of wisdom.

Hector also needs to settle some family business. He hasn't seen his wife and child for a while and naturally wants to be with them again after such a long absence. He also finds time to give the cowardly Paris a lecture, pouring scorn on his brother for not fighting. It was Paris who actually started this whole conflict by stealing Helen from Menelaus, so Hector explains that the least Paris could do is put on his armor and join in the fight that he started.

As Iliad 6 opens, the Greeks and Trojans have been fighting vigorously. As the Greeks begin to rally against the Trojans, the Trojan prophet Helenus advises Hector to head back toward the city, rally the Trojan troops, and make a stand before the city gates. Helenus also tells Hector to go into the city and ask his mother Hecabe (Hecuba) to make an offering and a vow of sacrifice to Athene.

While in Troy, Hector also encounters Paris and rouses him to battle. After leaving Paris' house, Hector searches out his wife Andromache. She pleads with Hector not to endanger his life and leave her a widow and their son an orphan. Hector, however, answers his wife with one of the more famous lines in the Iliad: 

"Go home, and attend to your tasks, the loom and spindle, and see the maids work hard. War is a man’s concern, the business of every man in Ilium, and mine above all" (A.S. Kline translation) 

After this heartfelt and tearful encounter with his wife, Hector meets Paris again and the two prepare to return to the battle. 

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