Who was the ideal Greek hero? Arguments arise between the several heroes. Some believe that Achilles or Hercules, or even Penelope was the ideal Greek hero, but I disagree. I believe that Odysseus was the ideal Greek hero. We can see this in his intentions, character and intelligence.

Why is Odysseus the ideal Greek hero? When some people think of the ideal Greek hero they automatically think of famous warriors such as Achilles or Hercules. But I believe that a Greek hero is much more than his sum of battlefield accomplishments. While Achilles and Hercules were masterful warriors, they lacked everything else Odysseus had to offer. Achilles was a great fighter, but he was also short tempered, brash, emotional and somewhat immature. Odysseus, on the other hand, exemplified every aspect of Greek culture. Odysseus was level headed, logical, calm and intelligent. Odysseus respected tradition, was honorable, obtained many riches and was perhaps the greatest Greek tactician. The list could continue, but these are some of Odysseus’ greatest qualities. But by far his best and most well known quality was that of his cunning. His cunning was so legendary in fact, that the gods themselves respected him. Another aspect of the Greek ideal was that of immortality. Every Greek hero sought the one thing every man wants, immortality. Odysseus accomplished this goal, because centuries have passed since his time, and we still discuss his character and his adventures. Odysseus may have not been able to beat Achilles in single combat, but when speaking of Greek culture and ideals, no hero exemplifies them better than Odysseus.

When asking the question of the ideal Greek hero, opinions differ widely. As previously mentioned, most believe Achilles to be the ideal hero. Achilles was an amazing fighter and tactician. He sought glory, immortality and treasurable possessions. Another opinion circulating is the idea that Penelope is actually the ideal Greek hero. If Penelope is a woman, how can she be the ideal Greek hero? Well put simply, Penelope exemplified every characteristic of a Greek woman. Even while her husband was gone for years, she stayed loyal and held hope of him coming home. She took care of their son, household and family duties until Odysseus’ son was ready to take the helm. These are some of the many opinions concerning the idea of the ideal Greek hero. But through research I have found that the three main characters seen as the ideal Greek hero are Hercules, Achilles and Odysseus.

In conclusion, I believe that Odysseus was the ideal Greek hero. When looking at who Odysseus was and how he acted I believe that this thesis is easy to agree with. Odysseus exemplified glory, immortality, bravery and tactical genius. Even when compared to other heroes such as Hercules, Achilles and Penelope, it’s easy to see to that Odysseus still succeeds, because those heroes only excelled in only one or two ways, whereas Odysseus excelled in every area. That is why I believe Odysseus is the best Greek hero to learn from and the ideal Greek hero.

Works Cited

Andrew Gordon. “Penelope, Unsung Hero.” Boston University. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

In this article the author argues that the hero we can learn the most from is actually Penelope. From faithfulness, hope and determination the author compares her to traditional Greek heroes and ranks her the top. This idea is completely contradictory to my thesis, so this provides my paper with a counter view.

Tim Rayner. “Odysseus and the Cyclops: Mastery, Humility, and Fate.” Philosophy for change. N.p., 11 June 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

The author admits that Odysseus was perhaps the greatest Greek hero, but shows that the hero still had his flaws. He argues that Odysseus lacked humility, and that he had mastery over everything except himself. I believe that this article will aid my thesis. A human is not without fault, so the author seeing this and still confirming Odysseus as the greatest hero only aids my view.

“Odysseus’ Wisdom.” First Things. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

In this article the author argues that Odysseus wasn’t thinking who passed on ideas of wisdom and intellect through the ages, he was a simply a man wanting to go home. The authors point can be summarized in his closing quote, “His road leads home toward wife, father, family, kingdom, and, ultimately, death. It is the deepest wisdom, and the broadest humanity possible - in a world without resurrection.” I think this article somewhat harms my thesis. He wasn’t some hero that we can learn from, he was just a man seeking home.

“The Study Club: Odysseus as a Hero.” The English Journal 11.2 (1922): 115–117. JSTOR. Web.

In this article the author argues that Odysseus was the best Greek figure. The author admits that Achilles was a better fighter, but that Odysseus ranked much higher in almost every other category of a hero. This piece matches my thesis completely, aiding me in every way.

“Odysseus Becomes a Much Wiser Man throughout His Epic Journey - GCSE Classics - Marked by Teachers.com.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

In this article the author expresses the idea that Odysseus becomes a much wiser man because of his journeys and trials. The author expresses the idea that Odysseus grows better as a man, husband, father and Greek hero. The author continuously revisits the idea that Odysseus is not boastful, but continuously humble and cunning, allowing him to succeed. This aids my thesis greatly. The author even claims that we can learn from Odysseus and his trails meaning that this article supports my position.

“Moral Values in the Epic Poem, ‘The Odyssey’ | The Classroom | Synonym.” N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

In this article the author focuses on several main values that are displayed by Odysseus throughout the epic. The author states that the values of compassion, self-control, perseverance and loyalty can all be found in Odysseus. The author explains that he may stumble and fall at times but that he always tries to keep these values. I believe that this aids my thesis. Examining Odysseus as the greatest Greek character to learn from, this only adds to my claim.

“The Odyssey as a Psychological Hero Journey.” Dana Spiegel, http://alumni.media.mit.edu. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

In this article the author examines the psychological evolution of Odysseus throughout his journey. The author shows that Odysseus struggles in certain areas, but in the end comes out victorious in his psychological battle and is a better man for it. The author states that by the end of the epic Odysseus is a much stronger and wiser man. This too aids my thesis. Struggling through life can be difficult, and we don’t have to fight Cyclops’ and gods. Odysseus shows us that what doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

“Is Odysseus the Ideal Greek Hero?.” N.p, http://minerva.union.edu. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

In this article the author believes that Odysseus was the most ideal Greek hero. The author states that his the most ideal both physically and spiritually. The author even brings up the points that by the end of the epic he no longer has any conflicts with the gods, and that in the underworld Hercules compared Odysseus to himself. This article is by far the greatest in support of my thesis. I agree with the author whole heartedly and appreciate his point of view.