Defining Heroism: A Study of Achilles in Greek Mythology

As defined by Merriam Webster dictionary a hero is “ a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities” (Merriam-Webster, 2015). That means by proper definition none of the Greek heroes qualify. Nevertheless, Greek mythology has a different definition of what a hero is and it is defined by distinctive characteristics. According to Momi Awana, Greek heroes are valued by the embracement of their mortality, superhuman abilities, un-heroic behaviors, and impermanent death (Awana, n.d.). Although some may argue because of how we today define a hero, based off of the Greek values Achilles was a courageous, loyal, and epic Greek hero who fought and led the Trojan War. He encompasses all the qualities valued by the Greeks of this time and therefore makes him the hero that he was and still is today.

Achilles was set up to be a hero in the making from the time we was an infant. He was born to the Myrmidons king Peleus, who was a mortal, and Thetis, a nymph. When he was just an infant Thetis wanted to make him immortal, so she immersed him into the river Styx, the river that separates the land of the living from the land of the dead. She did this to make him invincible in battle. Nevertheless, while being immersed she held him by his left heel and forgot to dip this heel in as well. Hence this part remained mortal.

As stated by Michael Nelson, “ Achilles knew from a young age that his life was fated to be either short and imperishably glorious or long, peaceful, and unremarkable” (Nelson, 1996). Nevertheless, Thetis knew that if her son went to Troy that he would die an early death because of her, so she kept him disguised as a young girl and hid him. However, Odysseus discovered Achilles secret and Achilles willingly went to Troy with Odysseus knowing he could die in battle. Nonetheless, when Achilles truest friend Patroclus died in battle, Achilles knew what he had to