Hector was a pup (1906)

[James A. Landau]

Hector was of course in the Iliad, which dates him as circa 1200 BCE.
However, the name "Hector" occurs earlier in Linear B tablets, suggesting that Homer
(or someone) attached a Greek name to a Trojan prince whose name (if he
existed) had been forgotten.

It is, I believe, merely one variant of a number of similar expressions, such
as
- since Jesus was a lance corporal
- since God was a little boy
- since xxx was a raw recruit

The first is US Marines, of course.  A Baptist friend re-rendered it as
"since Jesus was lanced corporally."  The third is also military, and I have heard
several names inserted for "xxx".

     - James A. Landau