Paris, the hero

Abstract

This study examines the concept of the hērōs through one of the Iliad’s less conventional characters, Paris. Although Paris is often portrayed as cowardly, sensual, and ineffective, several passages in the poem challenge this interpretation: his divine descent, acts of martial bravery, and narrative significance mark him as more than a passive figure. The analysis argues that Paris embodies an ambivalent form of heroism, illustrating how the Iliad problematizes the very ideal it constructs. Heroism here is not reducible to triumphant warfare; it lies at the intersection of divine favor, individual agency, and narrative function. The paper thus contributes to a more nuanced understanding of Iliadic heroism and highlights the poem’s poetic and ideological complexity.