ABSTRACT
To begin our contemplation of heroes we begin with an examination of heroes of the past. From the time of Homer to the present day, a sample of heroes are discussed. Specifically, eight pairs of heroes from different eras (Homeric, Biblical, Medieval, Renaissance, Enlightenment and modern eras) are examined for what they can tell us about what we today mean when we think of heroes and heroism: Ajax and Achilles, Samson and Paul, King Arthur and Sir Galahad, Cervantes and his creation Don Quixote, and Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee are examples of the pairs considered. Conclusions are presented.
