The Influential Greek Heroes of All Times
Ancient Greek literature provides some of the world’s greatest poems and stories. Greek literature lives in and influences our world even today. The ancient Greeks created great myths and heroes in their works of literature that influence the way we speak and write today. Early Greek writers produced long epic poems, romantic poetry, and some of the world’s most famous stories. Among the earliest Greek writings are two great epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, by a poet named Homer. Like most epics, both poems describe the deeds of great heroes.
Several gods were worshipped by the ancient Greeks. This is due to the Greeks’ creation of myths in order to explain the universe. The gods’ handiwork could be seen all around them. Thunderstorms, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions all have scientific answers today. The ancient Greeks, on the other hand, did not. They believed their gods were to blame for the occurrences, so they made up tales to explain the gods’ acts. These gods were fundamental to Greek mythology, which is a collection of stories about gods and heroes that attempt to explain how the world works. Each myth or fable is related to natural or historical events.
Greek mythology has had a significant influence on Western civilization’s arts and literature. You may be familiar with the names Hercules, Achilles, and Odysseus, but do you know how they came to be famous? They are all Greek heroes whose legends have been passed down through the generations.
- Hercules
Hercules is the most well-known and arguably most admired Greek hero. Many people relate to his narrative because of his courage and perseverance in overcoming several labors and challenges during his life. Hercules, like countless other epic figures, was born with the odds stacked against him. His father, Zeus, the king of the gods, was married to Hera, the goddess. However, Hercules was born as a result of Zeus’ adulterous liaison with Alcmene, a mortal woman. Hercules was born as a demi-god as a result of this. Early in his life, he began to demonstrate his immense power. Hercules successfully overcame each of the twelve difficult and deadly labours given by Eurytheus for him to endure in order to repent for his misdeeds, putting him at the top of the list of heroes.
- Prometheus
Prometheus was a Titan god by birth. He was in charge of giving humans things to help them live and thrive. Prometheus gave mankind the gift of fire, although there are several versions of how the gift was given. Prometheus is said to have searched Hephaistos and Athena’s workshop for a gift for man in one version of the myth. Prometheus stole fire from Hephaistos and Athena’s workshop to give mankind the tools for metalworking. Hephaistos was the god of fire who forged houses, weapons, and armour, so Prometheus stole fire from Hephaistos and Athena’s workshop to give mankind the tools for metalworking. The narrative of Prometheus tricking Zeus into eating animal bones and fat instead of the expected flesh is taken from the other version of Prometheus stealing fire for mankind. Zeus snatched the fire away from man, enraged. In return, Prometheus stole fire to return the gift to mankind.
- Achilles
Achilles was born to Thetis, a sea nymph. Thetis drowned Achilles in the River Styx while holding him by his heel to make him eternal. His demise could be linked to the fact that his heel stayed exposed. Achilles was the hero of the Trojan War, having triumphed in multiple engagements over the course of the 10-year conflict. Achilles’ greatest victory was the assassination of Hector, the prince of Troy. Despite his many victories, Achilles was eventually defeated by Paris near the end of the Trojan War. Paris fired an arrow directed by the gods that pierced Achilles’ heel. The Achilles tendon, which links the heel to the calf, is now known as the Achilles tendon.
- Odysseus
During the Trojan War, Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, offered much knowledge, counsel, and intelligence. Odysseus enlisted Achilles’ help in leading the Trojan War, which helped the Greeks win. While Odysseus won the Trojan Battle, he is best remembered for his gallant return to Ithaca after the war ended. The 10-year trip of Odysseus coming home was chronicled in Homer’s The Odyssey, which included encounters with sirens, Cyclops, and Scylla and Charybdis. He disguised himself as a beggar when he returned home because his kingdom assumed he was dead and requested that his wife, Penelope, remarry. Despite her objections, Penelope organised a competition for the suitors. The beggar tackled the task and was successful in completing it. After he won, Odysseus revealed himself, killed each suitor with his bow, and reclaimed his life with Penelope.
- Hector
Hector is said to have killed 31,000 Greek fighters during the Trojan War, making him the greatest warrior for Troy. Hector appears several times in The Iliad, although his encounter with Achilles is the most well-known. Hector chooses to protect Priam’s house in the city of Troy, embracing his wife and kid before he goes. Hector and Paris assemble a force of Trojan warriors to fight the invading Greeks. Hector faces Achilles in his final battle, unaware that Athena is assisting Achilles in the struggle. Hector mustered the courage to charge and approach Achilles with only a sword after exhausting all of his weapons in combat, knowing he would be killed. Hector’s bravery, courage, and strength through his battles in the Trojan War made him one of the most favoured heroes in Greek mythology.
In Greek Mythology, heroes were individuals of special strength, courage, or ability. They were often of divine ancestry and noted for superhuman courageous acts. These heroes find their mention in several works of literature- novels, poems, epics and are still today major subjects of fictional works. If you’re planning on writing your next novel, you might want to consider featuring a great Greek hero or two!
