AboutIrulan Serena Expertise Able to answer any question dealing with Greco-Roman mythology. Experience comes from teaching classical literature in all levels of the school curriculum from middle school to university level for thirty-eight years.
Question According to the Greeks' idea of what a hero should be, who is the greater hero, Achilles or Hector?
Answer Lorina,
According to the Greek definition of a true hero must have the following qualities:
- fighting precision which makes him stand out above others
- high-quality leadership which demands the allegiance and loyalty of his men
- bravery which inspires others to do brave acts not rash and childish acts of bravado
- posses good ethics and morals which also inspired others to emulate him
Hector was the true hero in the Iliad, he possessed all these four qualities, whereas Achilles only demonstrated two, bravery and fighting precision.
Hector’s goal was the protection of his home and family through a war that was not of his own making, whereas Achilles main goal was the achieving of honor and fame through rash bravery.
Hector's measured decisions and temperament in all his actions gives him the rightful honor that he deserved as the true hero of the Iliad.
