Every civilization throughout history has had its heroes those who represent the values of their society to the highest degree. In today's society, we think of heroes as super-humans who can run faster than a speeding train or leap over buildings in a single bound. In ancient Greece, heroes were people who demonstrated great strength and tremendous courage in battle. Greek heroes possessed honor, strength, and courage that earned them respect in the community. In the Iliad, Homer tells the story of two warriors, Achilles and Hector, both of whom exhibit many qualities of a Greek hero.

According to the ancient Greeks, living and dying with honor was of prime importance to one's heroic status. Achilles shows his honor throughout The Iliad. In

To be a hero, one must display honor, strength, and courage. In the Iliad, Achilles and Hector both display all of these qualities. Each embodies what their society defines as being a hero. They are admired for their noble qualities as well as the difficult tasks they perform. Ultimately a hero is a person who can overcome great odds, defend the good of their community, and show valor and strength in the face of controversy.

The Iliad also discusses Hector's honorable life and death twice. In Hector's conversation with Andromache, she tells him that she wants him to stop fighting because he is fated to die and she doesn't want to be left a widow. He replies to her that he would feel great shame in front of the Trojan warriors and the Trojan women if he did not continue to fight. Hector clearly would rather accept his fate and die than be dishonored and not fight. His mindset is the same as he stands at the Skian Gates and decides whether or not to retreat into the city. He shows his honor and pride by leaving the safety of the city to go out and fight. Pride and honor play a role in preventing Hector from backing down. Hector's fearless confrontation with his destiny is an extremely heroic act. Homer's description of Hector's courage, even in the face of death, shows his willingness to preserve his honor at all costs.

Another aspect of Greek heroism that is displayed in the story is the strength of the two warriors. In the story, Hector is described as the greatest of the Trojans. In Helen's conversation with Hector, she appeals to Hector and makes several statements about him being the best among the Trojans, especially better than her husband Paris. She says that she wishes that she were the wife of a better man, and that "better man" she is referring to is Hector. He also received praise at his funeral from his wife Andromache. She says that many Greeks fell to the g

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Approximate Word count = 1285
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)