"The epic hero of the ancient and medieval world is a problematic character: he simultaneously embodies the bright dream of a protective and courageous aristocrat, and the brutal fact of a violent man with a talent for killing. This dichotomy is often found in the characters of Indo-European heroes, who are at once both responsible for the protection of their society/state and its stability, yet by virtue of their capacity for violence, are bound to exist on the margins of society---they are never fully accepted as trusted members of their community. The hero has several complex functions within epic literature: he serves as a mediator between the mundane and supernatural worlds; he serves to protect his society, but is sometimes the bringer of social chaos; he supports the monarch, yet often this relationship is fraught with tension." (A comparative study of the hero in medieval Ireland, Persia, and England By Connell Raymond Monette)
It has always been interesting for me to know those who are considered as heroes in the Indo-European cultures were really good characters?!! What do you think about a man who deceives his own son and then kills him? Even in modern movies, you can hardly find a heroic character who cowardly flees from a battle! Why these Indo-European heroes had many different characters?!