Heroes take arduous journeys, confront mythical creatures, discover lost treasure, and change the nature of the world with their acts of courage and selflessness. They are legendary figures, endowed with great strength and ability, who dare to heed the call of adventure. These heroes endure much opposition, hardship, and danger to transcend the average man. Ultimately, the hero emerges as an invincible warrior who, by asserting his will, changes the world.
             Every civilization throughout history has had its heroes those who represent the values of their society to the highest degree. In today's society, we think of heroes as super-humans who can run faster than a speeding train or leap over buildings in a single bound. In ancient Greece, heroes were people who demonstrated great strength and tremendous courage in battle. Greek heroes possessed honor, strength, and courage that earned them respect in the community. In the Iliad, Homer tells the story of two warriors, Achilles and Hector, both of whom exhibit many qualities of a Greek hero.
             According to the ancient Greeks, living and dying with honor was of prime importance to one's heroic status. Achilles shows his honor throughout The Iliad. In the beginning of the story Achilles questions King Agamemnon's involvement in the war. This inquiry leads to his ultimate rebellion against the King and all social norms. Achilles' actions were uncommon because honor within the community is a vital part of being a hero. One did not question the orders of their superior regardless of the situation. The hero's whole world revolved around his relationship to his family and the city. If this personal honor awarded to him by the community was lost, he felt life had lost its meaning. For example, Achilles feels he has lost his honor when Agamemnon takes Briseis away from him. Later, he even refuses Agamemnon's gifts to compensate for his previous acti...