In Achilles, Homer summed up and fixed forever the ideal of the Greek character

He presented an imperishable picture of their national youthfulne , and of their ardent genins, to the Greeks. The "beautiful human heroism" of Achilles, his strong personality, his fierce pa ions controlled and tempered by divine wisdom, his intense friendship and love that pa ed the love of women, above all, the splendor of his youthful life in death made per fect, hovered like a dream above the imagination of the Greeks, and insensibly determined their subsequent development. At a later age, this ideal was destined to be realized in Alexander.