Blog Post #6: Is Achilles considered a hero today?

Achilles is praised as a hero for ancient Greece time but would he still be considered a hero in today's modern society? To answer this, we have to understand the virtues of a hero back then and today.
At Greece time, a hero must satisfy these virtues:
Nous: intellectual and wisdom
Kleos: glory (earn on the battlefield)
Time: honor
Arete: excellence in all skills
Oikos: homecoming
Xenia: hospitality
In today society, a hero does not need to have "Kleos" or "Arete" but is more common and usually share these traits: bravery, courage, selflessness, caring, nobility, and respected by society. They are the people who put their lives at risk for others' safety and wellbeing. From these definitions, they could be common people in our society such as soldiers, police officers, doctors, firefighters, fathers, and mothers.
Achilles could be considered a hero both in Greece and today's society as he displays virtues of heroes in both standards. However, due to cultural differences, a person with today's worldview may not consider Achilles to be a hero based on certain instances such as when he was displeased when King Agamemnon takes a slave, a woman named Chryseis away from him or the fact that he even owns slaves. However, in Greece time Achilles' reaction is justified due to King Agamemnon has dishonored him by not showing "Xenia" (the hospitality virtue). Even so, Achilles would defy Greece's virtues by withdrawing from the battle but at the same time value "Oikos"- a virtue for homecoming. Therefore, it is complicated to determine if Achilles is a hero in such instances.
In the closing scene where Achilles return the body of Hector to his father, Achilles shows an important tradition of ancient time: honoring the dead, even if it is your enemies'. This tradition is practiced to this day as bodies, remains of soldiers are retrieved from the battlefield for their families to honor.