Achilles is an epic hero because he embodied the honor that was so highly regarded in Greek society, chose to die early in battle and be remembered gloriously rather than living a long anonymous life in his homeland of Pthia, and avenged Patroclus's death.
Is Achilles considered an epic hero?
Achilles is an epic hero because he embodied the honor that was so highly regarded in Greek society, chose to die early in battle and be remembered gloriously rather than living a long anonymous life in his homeland of Pthia, and avenged Patroclus's death.
In what ways is Achilles like a traditional epic hero?
Both of them have epic hero characteristics, however Achilles is a greater epic hero because he is glorified by the Greeks, he has superior fighting skills compared to the average warrior , he is also a responsible leader. One of Achilles' most important traits would his superior fighting skills.
Who is the epic hero in The Iliad?
The prime example is Akhilleus
Why was Achilles The main character of the epic?
Achilles was considered a hero because he was the most successful soldier in the Greek army during the Trojan War. According to post-Homeric myths, Achilles was physically invulnerable , and it was prophesied that the Greeks could not win the Trojan War without him.
Why is Achilles not a hero?
Achilles can be described as a Tragic Hero in many ways. He was brave and had great strength but, he was also prideful and lacked control with his emotions , and in all the label of a tragic hero fits him.
Is Achilles or Hector the better hero?
Hector and Achilles are both great heroes but one is a better hero than the other . The hero of Troy is Achilles because he is brave, courageous, and he transforms from his experiences. ... Knowing that he wouldn't come back for the war in Troy, he goes and fights in the war anyway.
Who is the real hero of The Iliad Achilles or Hector?
These two great warriors both show different kinds of traits that shape the character they become throughout the The Iliad. Achilles is the main hero in The Iliad, but Homer subliminally tries to persuade the reader that Hector is the true hero in this story.
What are the 7 characteristics of an epic hero?
There are seven main traits of epic heroes; they are of noble birth or elevated status. They have superhuman capabilities , are a vast traveler, an unmatched warrior, a cultural legend, demonstrate humility, and finally, battle superhuman foes.
What does Achilles do with the dead body of Hector?
Achilles, with his lust for revenge still not satisfied, deliberately mistreats the body of Hector , tying him to his chariot and dragging him behind in the dirt as he drives back to the Greek camp.
Is Achilles immortal?
Achilles became invulnerable everywhere but at his heel where his mother held him. Because Achilles was a half-god, he was very strong and soon became a great warrior. However, he was also half human and wasn't immortal like his mother . He would get old and die someday and he could also be killed.
Why did Achilles refuse fight?
When Achilles was fighting under Agamemnon, slaves were taken in the Trojan territory as the Greeks moved across the land, sacking and looting along the way. Why did Achilles refuse to fight? He was angry because Agamemnon took his war-prize from him, his slave-bride Briseis.
Is Achilles a hero?
Who was Achilles? In Greek mythology, Achilles was the strongest warrior and hero in the Greek army during the Trojan War . He was the son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, and Thetis, a sea nymph. The story of Achilles appears in Homer's Iliad and elsewhere.
Did Achilles regret killing Hector?
For Achilles, killing Hector wasn't enough . Despite the moral codes surrounding respect and the burial of the dead, he took Hector's body and dragged it behind his chariot, taunting the Trojan army with the death of their princely hero.
Was Achilles evil?
We also see Achilles being bad . Above and beyond the aforementioned sulking, and those actions that don't square with 21st-century morality, are outrages intolerable even in his battle-hardened society. No one, god or Greek, can approve of Achilles' attempts to defile Hector's corpse.
