Heroism

Heroism is a quality many aspire to but few achieve. Depending on the current culture and view of a particular society the definition of what it means to be a hero varies. Greek culture shared many values and ideals throughout all of its cities. However, some differences can be seen in cities such as Athens and Sparta. The readings from Homer, Xenophon, Aristophanes, and Thucydides explain the Greek ideals about heroism. While the religious groups of Christians, Muslims, and Jews shared some basic concepts they differed greatly from the Greek vision. The Christian Sermon on the Mount, the Jewish Hebrew Scriptures, and the Muslim Koran all praise a similar version of a hero.

Greek life during the time of Homer was filled with war and conflict, which greatly influenced the Homeric hero. Homer exalts arÐ"Єte the Greek ideal of excellence, which to him means a hero that is brave in battle as well as honorable in life. A strong allegiance to ones family as well as to the state is seen as an important value. He stresses the importance of going off to battle for the state despite the chances for winning the battle. As is the case in the Illiad Hector goes off to battle knowing his defeat at the hands of Achilles is eminent. "Surely I take thought for all these things, my wife: but I have very sore shame of the Trojans and Trojan dames with trailing robes, if like a coward I shrink away from battle. Moreover mine own soul forbiddeth me, seeing I have learned ever to be valiant and fight in the forefront of the Trojans, winning my father's great glory and mine own." Hector was a great man, he was a hero, and thus went off and fulfilled his duty to the state, which is another aspect of heroism. A hero as seen by Homer has courage, strength, bravery, and honor.

Continuing with the Greek tradition of the importance of the state, Pericles remarks on the ideals of strength and greatness within the state. However the differences between the Athenians, who value freedom and independence, and the Spartans, who value order and strict control, are found within the oration. Although the Athenians wish for a peaceful and non-oppressive society they still call for citizens to be brave and stand up for the state. "And yet if with habits not of labor but of ease, and courage not of art but of nature, we are still willing to encounter danger, we have the double advantage of escaping the experience of hardships in anticipation and of facing them in the hour of need as fearlessly as those who are never free from them." The hero's of Athens not only helped contribute to the beauty of the community but when that beauty was threatened they were able to fight bravely and give their lives.

Spartans valued the basic ideal of Greek hero's; bravery. However the Spartans distance themselves from the Athenians and other Greeks in their radical treatment of young boys. To the Spartans excellence in physical conflicts and war is the ideal of a hero. Strength and bravery was instilled upon the boys at an early age. "Spartan boys were also encouraged to steal food. They stole, too, all other meat they could lay their hands on, looking out and watching all opportunities, when people were asleep or more careless than usual. If they were caught they were not only punished with whipping but hunger." Young boys were taught to prey on the weak, those that were asleep, in order to live and thus instilling a quality of dishonesty. This is a characteristic that would be looked down upon in reference to the Greek ideal of arÐ"Єte. The Spartans lives were filled with war and thus created a society where strength and courage was favored over all else.

Most Greek ideals of a hero are characteristics that typify a good man. Masculinity and strength the ability to defend oneself is a major portion of what it meant to be a hero in the Greek tradition. Xenophon acknowledges the differences between men and women. In regards to the traditional ideals of heroism it is the man that exceeds at this for he has been granted more courage than a woman. "And since he imposed on the woman the protection of the stores also, knowing that for protection a fearful disposition is no disadvantage, God meted out a larger share of fear to the woman than to the man: and knowing that he who deals with the outdoor tasks will have to be their defender against any wrong-doer, he mete out to him again a larger share of courage." Xenophon relates another important Greek characteristic, which is duty. Homer places importance on ones duty to their family and state. Like Homer Xenophon believes that it is both a man and a woman's duty to contribute to their place in society however he places the heroic characteristics with the men.

Similarly in Lysistrata Aristophanes focuses on the differences of men and women. The women are told to be silent and obey the men. When they finally tire of the war and of losing their sons