The iliad

Hector and Achilles : Images of a Hero in Ancient Greece

2006

Hector and Achilles : Images of a Hero in Ancient Greece

I believe both Achilles and Hector were justified in overcoming their personal fears to join their respective armies to fight for their country

To understand their actuations is to have a grasp of the concept of a hero in ancient Greece . Ancient Greece was a very different time in terms of their societal ways and the virtues they upheld . Honor and glory were two valued virtues of their heroes . Ancient

Greece also had a different concept than our present day appreciation of a hero . As a literary figure , a hero in ancient Greece is a mortal who undergoes personal transformations and turmoil while still living and must die a hero 's death to achieve immortality through kleos . Kleos in Greek means glory or the poem or song that tells of glory or fame ( The Concept . Both Achilles and Hector possessed the required heroic qualities and both had their inner conflicts which transformed them to be the heroes they were destined to be

For a start , Achilles ' is the son of the goddess Thetis and the mortal Peleus . He thus exhibit both god-like and human traits . He has the attributes of a god being almost invincible and swift-footed yet the very first conflict that he had with his leader of the Greek army Agamemnon , was over a war prize , a woman named Briseis , he felt he rightfully deserved but was withdrawn . In Book I Lines 177-179 of Ian Johnston 's new translation of The Iliad , Achilles spoke to Agamemnon thus

You threaten now to confiscate the prize

I worked so hard for , gift from Achaea 's sons

When we Achaeans loot some well-built Trojan town (Homer , The Iliad

The warrior , like a petulant child , then retreated to his ships and declined to fight the Trojans saying further to Agamemnon in Book I Lines 185-188

So I 'll return home now to Phthia

It 's far better to sail back in my curved ships

I don 't fancy staying here unvalued

to pile up riches , treasures just for you (Homer , The Iliad

Achilles ' sulking was mainly due to a bruised ego . For him , his achievements as a warrior were insulted and devalued when he was unfairly stripped of his prize Several attempts were made to persuade the feared Achilles to return to battle . Agamemnon offered him riches and Briseis but he just gave them poor romising and over-the-top excuses for a simple bickering His pride still ruled his head . When he realized that the Greeks were being outfought , he allowed his very close friend , Patroclus , to take his place in battle , to wear his armour to scare off the Trojans in believing he is Achilles

When Hector killed Patroclus , Achilles was crushed and he lamented his friend 's death . This was the turning point of the story for this awakened his warrior instincts . His wrath , a very human trait enveloped him...