What Defines a Hero?

What defines a hero, is it their strength, courage, accomplishment, or maybe determination? Over time the definition seems to change which is shown in Greek mythology. In the Iliad, the common factor for a hero seems to be strength to win battles and the later story; the Odyssey a hero is defined by their wit. Odysseus’ cunning intelligence was expressed by Helen saying

I couldn’t begin to tell you All that Odysseus endured and accomplished, But listen to what a hero did once In the land of Troy, where the Acheans suffered. First, he beat himself up-gave himself some nasty bruises-Then put on a cheap cloak so he looked like a slave, and in this disguise, he entered the wide streets of the enemy city. He looked like a beggar, Far from what he was back in the Greek camp, and fooled everyone when he entered Troy. I alone recognized him in his disguise and questioned him, but he cleverly put me off. It was only after I had bathed him And rubbed him down with oil and clothed him And had sworn a great oath not to tell the Trojans Who he really was until he got back to the ships, That he told me, at last, what the Achaeans planned. He killed many Trojans before he left and arrived back at camp with much to report. The other women in Troy wailed aloud, But I was glad inside, for my heart had turned Homeward, and I rued the infatuation Aphrodite gave me when she led me away From my native land, leaving my dear child, My bridal chamber, and my husband, A man who lacked nothing in wisdom or looks (Od. 4.258-283). Odysseus shows that he can persuade Helen, deceive the Trojans, and win the war becoming a hero to the Greek people.

Odysseus’s plotting began when he entered Troy in disguise; no one seemed to question him except Helen. Helen tried to ask Odysseus about his identity however because he was so quick Odysseus cleverly disregards her. Helen bathed Odysseus, revealing his identity. Helen was very intrigued by Odysseus that he was able to persuade her to keep his identity confidential to hear about the Acheans plans. The gods noticed Odysseus’ accomplishments, causing Athena to charm Helen causing her to leave without everything that was important to her. Helen’s lack to action assisted Odysseus’ schemes.

During the Trojan War Odysseus gave himself a new identity, a beggar used to sneak into Troy to gather information about the Trojans and give the Greeks an advantage. Being successful in sneaking into Troy himself, Odysseus’ being intelligent devised a plan to sneak many Greek soldiers inside the Trojan walls. Once everything was set in place

The Greeks set fire to their hunts on the beach and were sailing away, while Odysseus and the picked men with him sat in the horse, which the Trojans had dragged into their city. There the horse stood, and the Trojans sat around it and could not decide what they should do. There were three ways of thinking: hack open the timbers with pitiless bronze, or throw it from the heights to the rocks below, or let it stand as an offering to appease the gods. The last was what would happen, for it was fated that the city would perish once it enclosed the great wooden horse, in which now sat the Greek heroes who would spill Troy’s blood. The song went on. The Greeks poured out Of their hollow ambush and sacked the city. He sang how one hero here and another there Ravaged tall Troy, but how Odysseus went, Like the War God himself, with Menelaus To the house of Deiphobus, and there, he said

Odysseus fought his most daring battle and won with the help of Pallas Athena (Od. 8.542-563)

Odysseus deception that all the Greeks had left and tricked the Trojans into thinking that they were safe. Unfortunately for the Trojans Odysseus led the Greeks to down fall of Troy, destroying the city and taking their women as slaves.

Near the end of the Trojan War, Paris kills Achilles. However, the Trojan’s took Achilles body causing Ajax and Odysseus to retrieve the body so a proper, respectful burial was awarded to Achilles. Ajax and Odysseus are successful in fetching Achilles’ body giving them the title of heroes and since Odysseus was admired from the Trojan War because of his sly actions, he received Achilles’s armor. Since the war was finished it was time to return home to Ithaca sadly for Odysseus did not get a direct route home. Odysseus encounters the goddess Calypso who wanted Odysseus all to herself. After a year of being captive by Calypso, the other Gods pity Odysseus because they saw his heroic desires that Odysseus only wanted to return home to his wife. Calypso was ordered by Zeus to let Odysseus go so he can return home. Poseidon, god of the sea was angry with Odysseus for blinding his son causing Odysseus’ travels to extend further. Odysseus ended up on the island of the Cyclopes, who are not friendly and do not have xenia. Odysseus enters Polyphemus’ cavern with some of his men disastrously they are not welcomed and are held captive. Luckily, Odysseus is extremely nimble which enabled him to convince Polyphemus to get drunk and introduce himself

Noman is my name. He [fell] sound asleep, belching out wine and bits of humans flesh in his drunken stupor. I swung into action, Thrusting the stake deep in the embers, heating it up, and drove the sharp point right into his eye. He screamed, and the rock walls rang with his voice. [Polyphemus started to shout for help to the other Cyclopes. His neighbors gathered around and asked what was wrong] and Polyphemus shouted to them: ‘Noman is killing me by some kind of trick’! [They responded:] ‘If no man is hurting you, then your sickness comes from Zeus and can’t be helped’ (Od. 8.364-410).

Citations

Homer. Odyssey. Translated by Stanley Lombardo. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. ,2000.

Citations: Homer. Odyssey. Translated by Stanley Lombardo. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. ,2000.