Who is more heroic, Odysseus or Achilles?

In Webster's Dictionary, a hero is defined as a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of purpose, especially if this individual has risked or sacrificed his life. It can also be used in reference to a mythological or legendary figure, often of divine ancestry, who is favored by the gods, endowed with great courage and strength, and celebrated for his bold exploits. War or dangerous adventure is the hero's normal occupation.

In my opinion, Odysseus is much more heroic than Achilles. Throughout both the Iliad and the Odyssey, Odysseus showed more cunning and acts of bravery than Achilles. Both men did make an attempt to avoid fighting in the Trojan War, however, neither succeeded. After Odysseus was tricked into serving the Greeks, he was sent to recruit Achilles. Disguised as a peddler, he approached Achilles, who was dressed as a woman hiding among the maidens, and displayed trinkets and fine weapons.

Achilles tending Patroclus wounded by an arrow, id...

English: Triumphant Achilles: Achilles dragging th...

Briseis and Achilles in a 17th-century book illust...

"While the girls flocked around the trinkets, Achilles fingered the swords and daggers." After Odysseus discovered him, he persuaded Achilles into coming to the Greek camp and joining their army. This shows that Odysseus was smarter and cleverer than Achilles. Odysseus also showed cunning when he came up with the plot to defeat Troy, using the Trojan Horse.

Odysseus fought bravely throughout the entire Trojan War, whereas Achilles spent quite awhile in his tent pouting after Agamemnon kidnapped his prize maiden, Chryseis. He also lets his best friend, Patroclus, go into battle alone to die by Hector's spear. It takes a great loss like this for Achilles to get up and fight again. Even then he was not fighting out of bravery, but purely out of anger, with the desire of revenge. Then, after Achilles had killed Hector, he fastened Hector's feet to his chariot and...