Greatest Hero of All Time (Preliminary Research before Poll)

[uberkitty]

In Real Life

Category: Rebel
Gandhi
Jesus Christ

Category: Warrior
T.E. Lawrence (AKA Lawrence of Arabia)
Alexander the Great
Saladin
Joan of Arc

Category: Ruler
Charlemagne
Augustus Caesar
Suleiman the Magnificent

Category: Genius
Galileo
Einstein
Leonardo da Vinci


In Fiction

No contest: Francis Crawford of Lymond and Sevigny.

I know: you've never heard of him. He's the hero of the best historical fiction series ever written: The Chronicles of Lymond, by Dorothy Dunnett.

 

[arwink]

Richard Mayhew and Door.

Blame the Neverwhere thread.

 

[Vymair]

From western mythology & literature

Aeneas
Odysseus
Achilles
Perseus
Gilgamesh
Arthur
Lancelot
Percival
Tristan
Beowulf
Vainamonen (Finnish)
Robin Hood
Ali Baba
Aladdin
Roland
El Cid
Don Quixote
Cyrano de Bergerac
Aragorn
Sam
Frodo
Belgarion


I don't consider the prophet type characters from mythology (read your Joseph Campbell) to be classic heroes so I didn't include them here..

 

[Tonguez]

Jesus - Rebel and healer who took on the might of the Roman Empire and the Devil too -an inspiration to millions
Abraham - a Prince of Ur who turned his back on his heritage in order to follow the call of an 'unknown' God
Buddha - ditto the above (except he was Indian not Chaldean)


Genghis Khan unified the warring clans and nations occupying central Asia, brought Law (the Yasa) and Peace to the Mongol peoples, opened contact between Asia and Europe

Shaka Zulu
Geronimo
Hui te Rangiora - the man who discovered Antarctica (and made at least 3 trips to the Americas and one a few others to Asia

Ngatoroirangi - Navigator who guided the Te Arawa Waka from Hawaiki to Aotearoa/New Zealand and created the Pacific Ring of Fire (and was my ancestor)

My Dad

FICTIONAL CHARACTERS
Tarzan
Commander Vimes
Sledge Hammer
The Powerpuff Girl: Buttercup
Solomon Kane
Jackie Chan - cartoon version (although Uncle is pretty cool too)
R2D2

 

[-Eä-]

Greetings to you all!

I think in addition to those mentioned, I will add:

Sigurd Dragonkiller
Beren
Fëanor
Thurin
Cpt. Jean Luc Picard
Drizz't Do'Urden (quite heroic in the books)

 

[AvarielAvenger]

What on earth does that mean?

Well... assuming you weren't joking, as you are a Brit...

It's basically American slang for "Right on", "Ain't that the truth", "Agreed", "Definitely", and so on.

 

[bensei]

Ash
Brian

 

[Bonedagger]

...... Me. I'm the greatest hero of all time.

Next question.

 

[Paul_Klein]

Bill Gates

 

[Clear Dragon]

Dirk Gently
Arthur Dent