Ancient Greece

He was actually more than just a hero; Achilles was considered in ancient times as a demi-god and revered in many parts of Greece. He dedicated his entire life to pursuing a glorious afterlife, seeking to be surrounded by his deities with whom he shared his life and pleasures in an eternal joy atmosphere, interspersed with feasting and fighting endlessly for the sake of honor and greatness.

Achilles decided consciously to leave his human life behind and engrave his name through his noble acts in the Greek world and the world in general. He wanted history to identify him as an "immortal God" rather than a coward who chose a long life over fighting to his last breath in a battle of death. By choosing a short life, Achilles has given history the reason to remember him for eternity and built his legend, because after all his choice complies with what he is and who he truly was; a Goddess and a king's child. The courage he displayed, which his name is forever associated with, is what true heroism is about.