Who is the Greatest hero of all ages?

[Meneltarmacil]

I would consider Frodo and Sam the greatest heroes of Middle-Earth. Despite all the praise the heroes of the First Age have recieved, it seems to me that their heroic deeds in battle only helped to keep evil at bay for a while and didn't really accomplish much beyond that. But look at what these two hobbits did that a bunch of great warriors could not! They took on the most dangerous task ever and with all odds against them, they perservered through friendship and courage to bring Sauron's power to an end, something that could not be achieved by victories in battle.

I think they deserve to share in this honor because neither one could have done it on his own. They depended on each other to keep going.

And I also believe that Gollum should be recognized for the part he played at the very end, even if it was done for his own evil purposes, as Frodo could not have destroyed the Ring without him.

[Mad Baggins]

Frodo and Sam, for one. They defied all odds and went into Mordor, beat Shelob (which, mind you, even strong Orcs could not do! Then again, they had the power of the Elves on their hands...) and saved Middle-earth to boot.

For another, Finrod, Luthien and Beren. They too defied all odds and retrieved a Silmaril from the Iron Crown of Morgoth. They did what others could not, and that is what makes them all heroes.

[Gothmog]

There are so many great heroes through the history so I can't choose one... You guys (and girls ) have covered most of them (if not all), and I agree with most of you that what Frodo and Sam did is hard to beat.

BUT (hobbit-lovers, please don't kill me ) I must say that I'm more impressed by the elves and men of before... People like Fingolfin, Fingon, Finrod, Gil-Galad, Húrin, Túrin, Huor, Tuor, Eärendil, Beren & Luthien etc etc, well if it weren't for them then there wouldn't be any hobbits by the time of the War of the Ring. If the old heroes would have failed, Middle-Earth had become Morgoth's kingdom to rule, and I don't think he would have liked the hobbits (imagine Morgoth Bauglir walking around in the Shire smelling flowers ).

[Numenorean]

Saraphim -

One word: Fingolfin. If I had money, I would fund a Silmarillion movie just to see Melkor and Fingolfin fight to the death. It's my favorite scene in the whole book

Same here! That and the Nirnaeth Arnoediad would be almost too epic.
For greatest Hero and heroics though, I'd have to salute Beren Erchamion & Lúthien.