Hecuba'slifewasoneofgriefandsorrow．ShesawwithherowneyeshereldestbornHectorkilledandinsultedbyAchilles．ShesawhersonPolitesslaininfrontofherbyPyrrhus．Andshesawherhusband,theagedPriam,draggedtowardsthehouseholdaltarandruthlesslybutcheredthere．AfterthefallofTroyshewascarriedintoslavery．ShehadthemisfortunetowitnessherdaughterPolyxena,hersoleconsolationinbondage,sacrificedatthetombofAchilles．ShehadthesadfatetoseewashedashorethecorpseofheryoungestsonPolydorus,whohadbeenentrustedtotheThraciankingforsafekeeping．Withherfiftychildrenalldeadshebecamethequeenofsorrowsfromwhomnootherwomancouldobtainthecrown．Yetinherdistressanddespair,shepluckeduphercouragetoavengeherselfupontheThracianking,whohadmurderedhersoninordertogetherson'sgold．Later,asDionysushadprophesied,shewastransformedintoadogwithbloodshoteyesand,unabletoendurethenewmisery,sheleaptintotheseaandthusendedherunfortunatelife． 　　赫克犹巴的一生充满了痛苦与悲哀.她亲眼目睹了长子海克特被阿基里斯侮辱,尔后被杀害；儿子波利斯被皮洛士杀死在自己面前；年迈的丈夫皮安姆被拖到家庭祭坛残酷地处死.特洛伊沦陷后,她成了一名奴隶.她又不幸地看到了自己在奴役中的惟一安慰——女儿波里丝娜被血祭于阿基里斯的墓前.为了使最小的儿子波里德诺斯能得到妥善的照顾,她把他委托给了塞希国王.可是,不幸的命运又使她看到了被冲到海边的儿子的尸体.她的50个孩子都死了,赫克犹巴因此成为悲哀女王,而别的女人都无法得到这顶王冠.然而,即使处于痛苦与绝望之中,她仍旧鼓足勇气向塞希国王复仇,因为塞希国王为了得到她儿子的黄金而杀死了他.后来,正如狄俄尼索斯所预言,她被变成了一条狗,眼带血丝.她不堪忍受这种新的痛苦,就跳进海里,结束了自己不幸的一生.