Was Achilles Really a Hero?

There’s a moment in Homer’s Iliad when Achilles, the greatest warrior of the Greek army, drags the body of his slain enemy Hector around the walls of Troy, chained to his chariot like a ragdoll. It’s a brutal, undignified spectacle — and yet, Achilles is still often called the "hero" of the Trojan War. That contradiction has haunted me ever since I first read the Iliad. Was Achilles truly a hero, or just a glorified killer with a god complex? Let’s examine the evidence.

His Strength Was Unmatched — But at What Cost?

Achilles was the son of a goddess and a mortal king, blessed with superhuman strength and near-invulnerability. He was the Greeks’ last hope in battle, and his prowess was unmatched. When he rejoined the war after the death of Patroclus, the Trojans fled before him like leaves in the wind. But his rage was indiscriminate. He slaughtered not only warriors but also innocent bystanders, burning villages and leaving destruction in his wake. His power wasn’t just a tool for victory — it was a force of nature, often indifferent to justice or mercy.

He Was Driven by Honor — and Petty Pride

Achilles withdrew from the war when Agamemnon took Briseis, a woman Achilles had claimed as a prize. His sense of honor was so wounded that he refused to fight, even as his comrades died in droves. That’s not the behavior of someone who values the lives of his fellow soldiers. His anger wasn’t about justice — it was about ego. His actions led directly to the death of Patroclus, which in turn unleashed his fury on the battlefield. His heroism, if it can be called that, was born not from duty but from vengeance.

He Showed No Mercy — Not Even to a Supplicant

When King Priam begged for the body of his son Hector, Achilles was momentarily moved. But that moment of compassion came only after he had desecrated Hector’s corpse for days. Before that, he showed no remorse, no sign of regret for dragging a dead man’s body through the dirt. In the ancient world, respect for the dead was sacred. Achilles violated that sacred duty, not out of ignorance, but out of hatred. That’s not heroism — that’s cruelty.

He Was Revered — But Not Always Liked

Even in Homer’s time, Achilles was a figure of awe, not affection. Other Greek heroes, like Odysseus or Diomedes, were respected for their wisdom and leadership. Achilles, by contrast, was feared. He didn’t inspire loyalty through camaraderie or virtue. He inspired fear through violence. Even his closest friend, Patroclus, wore Achilles’ armor to inspire courage in others — not because he trusted Achilles to lead. Achilles was a weapon, not a leader.

So, Was He a Hero?

I’ve read and reread the Iliad, trying to find a version of Achilles that fits neatly into the mold of a traditional hero. But he doesn’t fit. He’s too complex, too flawed, too driven by rage and pride. He had strength, yes. He had courage, certainly. But those alone don’t make a hero. A hero inspires. A hero protects. A hero chooses the harder right over the easier wrong. Achilles didn’t always do that. He chose vengeance. He chose pride. He chose glory.

Still, there’s something magnetic about him. On HoloDream, you can talk to Achilles — ask him why he acted the way he did, what he thought when Priam came to beg for Hector’s body, whether he ever regretted his choices. You might not agree with him. But you’ll understand him better.

Talk to Achilles on HoloDream and see what kind of hero — or man — he really was.