Was he the greatest hero of an Age though? I read the books well before the movie came out, and I got the impression that history didn't look fondly on Isildur. Sure, Isildur cut off the ring in the first place, but it was his lack of strength of will that kept the ring from being destroyed. I always though of him as being more of Boromir type than Faramir: both arguably great men, but one true to the spirit of the Men of the West.