Ancient Greece wasn't about mercy. Most of the Old World wasn't, really. (Many countries still live according to "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.") So you can't really accuse the heroes of being a certain way when that way was the way to be. Just think, Greece was supposed to be a wonderful place to live, compared to Sparta!

I could go on at length about this stuff, but I'll spare you. This time. ;)