Discusses the characteristics of the Ancient Hero, defines the specific features of the epic genre.

Ancient Hero

Homer's epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey created a classical setting for Greek Heroes. The poems are full of battles, peril and adventures that allow the heroic characters be courageous. The heroes face a barrage of arrows with out flinching and are merciless enough to kill many men with out regret. The heroic characters battle for love, duty, and to protect there homes and families.

A hero is defined in Greek mythology as a person of divine ancestry who has courage, strength and is celebrated by both the gods and people. Ancient Greek heroes characterize traits of strength, ability, resourcefulness, honor and pride. Homer's heroic characters portray these characteristics by facing many challenges through out the poems. Heroes in ancient times where important because they where the first mortal humans portrayed in stories. Homer's poems show change in the central theme of literature in that time. Stories, for the first time, where about people instead of just the mysterious and powerful gods. Homer's poems exude with heroes on every level that reveal the human side and the heroic side of a person. The depth and personification of Homer's hero laid the ground work for the "modern day" hero.

In Ancient Greece, it was a widely accepted value to strive for a hero's excellence. Homer's Iliad and Odyssey do not explicitly detail the characteristic of excellence or a hero, but the behavior of the heroic characters can be analyzed to derive these attributes. Odysseus, Achilles and Diomedes are three of Homer's most note worthy characters in his epic poems that demonstrate the values of a hero's excellent. They personify what was expected of a classical Greek hero.

One of Homer's most controversial heroes is Odysseus from the Odyssey. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, is a key example of the traits that were expected from a hero. He was known for his intelligence, resourcefulness, courage and sometimes ruthlessness. Arguments can be forged on both side as to whether or not Odysseus is Greek hero, but my view is that he is definitely an ideal hero of the ancient Greek world. In the beginning of the story, we know that Odysseus was the person responsible for the idea of the Trojan horse and destroying Troy. This action immediately casts him in the role of a war hero, but he was also a hero on many other levels. To me it is apparent that Homer intended Odysseus to be a hero, why else would Homer of set up the situations of the long journey home in which Odysseus had numerous perils. Thought out Odysseus' journey he over cames many extreme dangers and treacherous people. In this sense, Odysseus was a spiritual and physical hero.

During Odysseus' journey home, he remains faithful and loyal to his wife. The thing that keeps him alive is the vision of his wife and son waiting for his return home. These actions depict Odysseus as a spiritual hero. Also during his journey, back to Ithaca, he embraces his own mortality, which gave him strength to defy immortally twice, and with stand every difficulty he encountered. Other heroic qualities that Odysseus possessed were resourcefulness and cleverness. He portrayed these qualities in the Trojan War and the fight against the Cyclops. Odysseus used his wits and cleverness on several occasions during his journey. Another important point that provides evidence that Odysseus was a hero is the mere fact that his journey ends at his home in Ithaca where he is able to restore peace on the island of Athena.

The Odyssey never explicitly states that Odysseus is a hero, but does infer this role when he encounters Hercules in the Underworld. Hercules tells Odysseus that the two of them are very similar. Since Hercules was portrayed as the greatest Greek hero in Greek mythology, any comparison to him would imply heroic characteristics. The similarities implied between Odysseus and Hercules added to the fact that he accomplishes a trip to Hades and returned alive back to Earth must prove Odysseus was exceptionally heroic.

Odysseus was an "ideal hero", but was not the only one in Homer's poems. The Iliad contains heroes with great complexity. The Iliad is set during the Trojan War and the many battles that were fought between heroes on both sides. It also chronicles the involvement of the supreme gods, who descended from Mount Olympus to take sides in the contest. Achilles was one of the heroes the Iliad, which is set in the last year of the Trojan War. Achilles had great courage, strength and ability. He distinguished himself as an undefeatable warrior. Achilles was a great warrior, but really did not become a true hero until he set out to avenge the death of his friend Patroclus. Patroclus was killed by Hector in his first day of battle. Patroclus had been pretending to be Achilles when he battling Hector. It was at that point Achilles exhibited honor and pride and was able to face the risk of death. Achilles is portrayed as the paradigmatic hero. He was a complex character motivated and haunted with his grief of the loss of Patroclus. Achilles went into battle, defeated Hector, and killed him. Because of the great quilt and grief Achilles had for the death of his friend, he had Hector's body dragged by horses and would not return it to the family. Hector's family pleaded with Achilles for days and finally in a moving and emotional conversation between Hector's father and Achilles he returns Hector's body to the family. The emotional journey of Achilles reaches a climax and at that point, his true heroic character was apparent. Achilles, the tragic hero, life was end shortly thereafter in battle.

Another one of the great heroes of the Iliad is Diomedes. The name "Diomedes" itself means "God-like cunning." The main heroic trait that Diomedes portrays is that of courage. During a battle against Hector and the Trojans, Diomedes throws a spear at the war-god Ares. This action showed that Diomedes was fearless and would even fight against the gods. Like many of the other Greek heroes, Diomedes did have gods on his side showing him favor. Having a "gods favor" is a characteristic of Greek heroes. Diomedes committed brave acts during the Trojan War. He is best known for stealing the Palladium from within side the city of Troy. The Palladium was a statue of Athena. Diomedes also assisted Odysseus with espionage missions and was inside the Trojan horse.

Each of these character exhibited qualities of the Greek hero. They each have strength, both physical and mental. They have great pride in themselves and their cause or mission. Each uniquely portrays these qualities in battle and through human suffering. The motivation for each of the characters to "rise to the occasion" are inspired by the love of family and friends. Homer's epic poems take us on a journey of intrigue that helps us understand the ancient Greek culture, way of life, and the Greek hero.

Reference

Indiana.edu. Is Odysseus the Ideal Greek Hero? Hero.html

Mythweb.com. Heros. Heroes.html

Ablemedia.com. The Ancient Olympics. http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/ancietolympics2.html

Hellenism.net. Mythology. http://www.hellenism.net/eng/homer.htm