Examples Of Heroism In The Iliad

What is a hero? Heroes are found everywhere. I believe the definition of a hero should be a person who is eminent and shows great valor. Brave, selfishness, humility and excels in skills and strength are the characteristics that allows heroes to stand out from other people. In the Iliad, by Homer, the virtue "courage" kept popping out which allowed heroism to be put on a pedestal and also as a recurring theme. During the Trojan War, in the Iliad, courage seemed to be the most important prized above everything else. Despite the fact that heroes have human failings, a hero is someone that has and shows the courage and bravery of a great leader; which makes them courageous and honorable leaders as illustrated by Hector in the Iliad, who possesses all these characteristics.
The first quality that Homer uses to show us how Hector is a hero, is how honorable and well respected he is by his warriors and everyone that surrounds him. Homer shows this in Book 3, when Hector steps out between the two armies while they are fighting and holding his warriors back. While the Achaeans are trying to destroy him with their arrows until Agamemnon tells them, "No more shooting,you men of Achaea! For it seem that bright-helmeted Hector has something to say  (Iliad 3.88-89). Due to the fact, Hector is well respected and possesses high honor, after his speech the Trojans and Achaeans call it quits. Being a well-respected man and warrior, Hector is able to influence people around him because of the high status he