There are many candidates for a good hero in the world, such as Ghandi, MLK Jr., or maybe even Batman. However, the one that stands out in history is Leonidas I, son of Anaxandridas II, King of Sparta.

Leonidas is a legendary figure in Spartan history. A fierce warrior,
he embodies the fighting spirit of mankind, that uniting drive that makes
all of us strive for our goals. Leonidas was also a man of honor and
dignity, laying his life on the line for the sake of his homeland. He had no
qualms about the possibility of death; rather, he embraced it. He and his
personal guard of 300 joined other Greek city-states at the Battle of
Thermopylae, where they faced the horde that was the Persian army, led by
their god-king Xerxes. It was surely a one-sided battle, but Leonidas and
his men pressed on, their determination strong as the shields they carried.
Against all odds, the 300 defended against the Persian for two days, killing
about 20,000 enemy soldiers, while taking very few of their own casualties.

Leonidas is a man who stood for courage. True courage is a difficult
thing to encounter. However, Leonidas stood by his people and defended his country with his last breath. His valor
motivated the Greek city-states to unite and push back the Persian horde, a
feat never before accomplished. Because of his strong determination and
willpower, Leonidas is a true hero.