The Greatest of the Greek Heroes

By: Andrew Chen While many heroes had great skills, qualities and abilities, those were skills that came from the gods. Patroclus was an ordinary man who managed to surpass many great heroes, not through strength or speed, but with skills that are admired. Patroclus was one of the bravest men ever known. He was a man who represented the noble self-sacrifice that any hero must make. Patrocluss determination to win the war and dedication to this country was greater than any of the other Greek heroes. Perhaps there are many stronger heroes with an impressive exterior, but Patroclus demonstrated the greatest qualities of a person, making him a greater hero.

What everyone admires, what musicians sing about, is courage. Many heroes were told to be brave, but not one hero came close to Patrocluss bravery. Patroclus was an ordinary soldier, one with skills far worse than the heroes of the Trojan War, such as Ajax and his strength, Diomedes with his versatility, or even Paris with his skill at the bow. He was more or less the same as a foot soldier in the war. However, he fought for Greece with all his might. He chose to do feats that were above his level. For example, when the Greeks were near their ships, Patroclus fought the Trojans all the way back to their walls. Subsequent to the suffering of his many wounds and tiring himself out greatly, he continued onward. He fought against many people who were stronger than him, including Apollo, the sun god. He challenged Hector, greatest of the Trojans, a manslayer and someone who could easily kill him. Nonetheless, he had the bravery to stand up and fight. It was clear to him that he would die if he did, and yet he rose to the challenge. When

everyone else was running away from Hector, Patroclus stood up and fought back. Not many ordinary people possess the valor to fight on in the face of their death. Bravery and courage were what built Patroclus into the hero that he is.

People must make sacrifices in order to gain and achieve their greatest desires. Many heroes in legends embody such sacrifices. But Patroclus represents the greatest sacrifice of all: self-sacrifice. Self-sacrifice is resigning oneself to and for the greater good. It is the greatest of sacrifices, which is part of the unwritten list of heros qualities. Patroclus sacrificed himself through his own death. He chose to die for the victory of the Greeks. Achilles, a great hero and the only man who could defeat Hector, sat out of the war. Patroclus was Achilles close friend and he decided to fight Hector, feigning as Achilles. Knowing that his death would bring Achilles back into the war, Patroclus decided to sacrifice himself. He chose dying for the greater good over living for a lost cause. Many heroes do not have that kind of self-sacrifice in them. Of all the Greek heroes listed, none had the same feeling of self-sacrifice, none of them died for the greater good. They all had their own goals, their own agendas. Patroclus died for the victory of the Greeks, he did not fight for his own gain. Heroes believe in honor and glory, but do not believe in dying for the greater good. Ajax for example, committed suicide because he had no other option left in his life. Self-sacrifice judges the true worth of a hero, which is often obfuscated by

male bravado. Patroclus beautifully displayed this, a clear indication of heroism.

Dedication to oneself, ones country, ones king and ones people are what all heroes claim to have. However, did Theseus truly love Ariadne? Did Jason love Medea?

These heroes did not have the same kind of dedication to their world that Patroclus did. Patroclus loved his country, his people and his king more than he ever loved himself. When his people were in danger, Patroclus humiliated himself to try and convince Achilles to join the war again. He begged, he wept and he moaned for Achilles to join the war. And when all those tactics failed, he decided to make a commitment to do whatever it took for Achilles to join. He decided to disobey Achilless orders and fight the Trojans himself. He dishonored himself, rushed to his death and humiliated himself, just for the victory of the Greeks. He remained loyal to his commitment even on his death; he did not run away when it was obvious that he would die, he continued forward. It was bravery that gave him this thought, but it was dedication and loyalty that let him stay true to his path. If his dedication to his country did not show that he was a great hero, then no one should be recognized as a hero.

Patroclus is someone who surpasses Hercules, strongest of men and even Achilles. Not in terms of strength or fighting capability but through bravery, sacrifice and dedication. He was a man who did everything he could to go as far as possible. Not like Achilles who just slept around in his tent during the war, or even Hector who fought every day. Patroclus went to extremes and beyond. Many heroes who one envies stand above one and look down upon one, but Patroclus is a hero who stands, leads and guides one.