IntroductionWho is a hero? In contemporary times, the use of the term has become somewhat of a cliché. Over the years, the term “hero” has come to represent a wide variety of individuals, each with different traits. Some of the answers my colleagues gave (during our class discussion about heroism) about who they consider heroes pointed to celebrities, athletes, teachers, and family members. Although the occupations were different, each of their heroes possessed qualities that my classmates perceived as extraordinary, both morally and physically. However, Webster defines "hero" as "a person admired for great or courageous deeds or excellent qualities." Therefore, it is worth considering that individuals become heroes in relation to the situation they face. Using the above definition of hero and heroism, this essay attempts to evaluate three famous heroic characters portrayed in arguably the three greatest literary epics known to mankind. , Achilles of ancient Greece, Sundiata Keita of ancient Mali, and Rama of Ayodhya in what is now modern India. With references to Stanley Lombardo's translation of Homer's Iliad, D.T. Niane's Sundiata, and R. K. Narayan's translation of Valmiki's Ramayana, this essay seeks to compare and contrast the attributes of these heroes, the morals associated with their heroism, and the their reasons for engaging in battle.AchillesThe Greek the greatest warrior in the army during the Trojan War, Achilles was born to the goddess Thetis and the mortal Peleus. (Murnaghan, 1997, p.xxv)“Strong, fast and god-like” as Lombardo says translating Homer (1997, p.5), his presence on the battlefield reverberated fear through his enemies. Being a general of the Achaean army, his original logic of engaging… mid-card… characteristics that ultimately determined the outcome of their campaigns. Although in some cases they used different morals and approaches, they were successful in their fight. Furthermore, their attitudes also highlighted the characteristics of their cultures. The mutiny of Achilles as well as the humility of Sundiata and Rama indicate what constituted the ethical code in each culture. However, each of the three is a heroic representation of their respective cultures, thus leading to the conclusion that heroes are born in relation to the situation they face. Works Cited Homer (1997). Iliad. (S. Lombardo, trans.). Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. Narayan, R.K., and Kampar. (2006). The Ramayana: an abridged modern prose version of the Indian epic (suggested by the Tamil version of Kamban). New York: Penguin Books. PDF e-book.Niane, D. (2006). Sundiata. Harlow: Longman.