Greek heroes were characterized by having one immortal parent, being born into royalty, and experiencing unusual conceptions or births. They were often favored by the gods and the subject of prophecies. As youths, they displayed amazing feats of strength. As adults, they went on quests to defeat monsters, traveled to the underworld, married princesses, and died ignoble deaths despite their gifts, highlighting their humanity. Their flaws and deaths ensured their stories would be remembered for generations.

1. TheThe
CharacteristicsCharacteristics
of the Greekof the Greek
HeroHero

2. When we think of theWhen we think of the
word hero, what comesword hero, what comes
to mind?to mind?
 Masked men in spandex, tights, and capes?Masked men in spandex, tights, and capes?
 Tortured loners with no one to love?Tortured loners with no one to love?
 Cool cars, hot women, and high-tech gadgets?Cool cars, hot women, and high-tech gadgets?
 Superman?Superman?
 Batman?Batman?
 Spiderman?Spiderman?
 Fireman?Fireman?
 Policeman?Policeman?
 Everyman?Everyman?

3. What makes a hero inWhat makes a hero in
Greek Mythology?Greek Mythology?
 Having one immortal parentHaving one immortal parent
 Being born into royaltyBeing born into royalty
 Having an unusual conception or birthHaving an unusual conception or birth
 Being favored by the godsBeing favored by the gods
 Being the subject of a prophesyBeing the subject of a prophesy
 Being abandoned at birth or while very youngBeing abandoned at birth or while very young
 Performing an amazing feat at a young agePerforming an amazing feat at a young age
 Going on a questGoing on a quest
 Traveling to the underworldTraveling to the underworld
 Marrying a princessMarrying a princess
 Dying an ignoble deathDying an ignoble death

4. Unusual Conception /Unusual Conception /
BirthBirth
 Heroes are often called “Demi-gods” becauseHeroes are often called “Demi-gods” because
one parent is immortal and the other is mortalone parent is immortal and the other is mortal
 Most famous heroes were the offspring of ZeusMost famous heroes were the offspring of Zeus
or Poseidon, but sometimes the parent was aor Poseidon, but sometimes the parent was a
goddess such as Aphrodite or Thetisgoddess such as Aphrodite or Thetis
 To further complicate things, often the heroes’To further complicate things, often the heroes’
actual births involved strange complicationsactual births involved strange complications

5. Born into RoyaltyBorn into Royalty
 Heroes were almost always the offspring of aHeroes were almost always the offspring of a
princess or queenprincess or queen
 Typically the god responsible for the heroTypically the god responsible for the hero
either came disguised as the husband of theeither came disguised as the husband of the
queen, or the princess slept with a god and aqueen, or the princess slept with a god and a
mortal on the same nightmortal on the same night
 Invariably the hero was claimed by his earthlyInvariably the hero was claimed by his earthly
father as well as his Olympian onefather as well as his Olympian one

6. Prophesy /Prophesy /
AbandonedAbandoned
at Birthat Birth
 The fates or the oracle often had something toThe fates or the oracle often had something to
say about the birth of a herosay about the birth of a hero
 Often the prediction so frightened the parentsOften the prediction so frightened the parents
that they abandoned the child in thethat they abandoned the child in the
wilderness, but since the heroic child waswilderness, but since the heroic child was
favored by the gods, he was saved and raisedfavored by the gods, he was saved and raised
by someone other than his parentsby someone other than his parents
 Sometimes, through no fault of the parents, theSometimes, through no fault of the parents, the
child needed to be raised away from homechild needed to be raised away from home

7. Performing an amazingPerforming an amazing
feat at a young agefeat at a young age
 Young heroes invariableYoung heroes invariable
found a way to “strut theirfound a way to “strut their
stuff” when they were weestuff” when they were wee
tykes.tykes.
 Heracles killed two snakesHeracles killed two snakes
as a youngster, Theseusas a youngster, Theseus
moved a huge rock andmoved a huge rock and
fought what he thought was afought what he thought was a
lionlion
 These events were a headsThese events were a heads
 up that great things were inup that great things were in
store for our heroesstore for our heroes

8.  Since heroes were the offspring of gods,Since heroes were the offspring of gods,
usually they were favored by the gods.usually they were favored by the gods.
 A child of Zeus would get help on a questA child of Zeus would get help on a quest
by Zeus or another Olympianby Zeus or another Olympian
 Special gifts such as helmets, wingedSpecial gifts such as helmets, winged
sandals, and golden bridles were loanedsandals, and golden bridles were loaned
to the heroesto the heroes
Favored by the GodsFavored by the Gods

9. Quests, Kleos andQuests, Kleos and
AristeaAristea
 Heroes made the world a safer place byHeroes made the world a safer place by
defeating a monster, killing an evil king,defeating a monster, killing an evil king,
or righting a wrongor righting a wrong
 Heroes wanted their names to liveHeroes wanted their names to live
forever since they could not.forever since they could not.
 Songs must be sung that wouldSongs must be sung that would
perpetuateperpetuate the stories of their greatthe stories of their great
deedsdeeds

10. Travel to theTravel to the
UnderworldUnderworld
 The hero had to confront death andThe hero had to confront death and
come back stronger and rejuvenatedcome back stronger and rejuvenated
 Heroes were mortal, so confronting deathHeroes were mortal, so confronting death
allowed them to face their own mortalityallowed them to face their own mortality

11. Married a PrincessMarried a Princess
 Heroes invariableHeroes invariable
married a princess,married a princess,
but instead ofbut instead of
marital bliss, thismarital bliss, this
frequently broughtfrequently brought
turmoil andturmoil and
unhappinessunhappiness

12. Ignoble DeathIgnoble Death
 The hero had larger than life attributes, but heThe hero had larger than life attributes, but he
also had larger than life flawsalso had larger than life flaws
 Aristotle would have called this hamartia, and itAristotle would have called this hamartia, and it
was usually brought on by hybriswas usually brought on by hybris
 Very few heroes could come to grips with theirVery few heroes could come to grips with their
gifts and their mortality, but that humanity isgifts and their mortality, but that humanity is
part of their appealpart of their appeal
 That appeal is what allowed their societies toThat appeal is what allowed their societies to
forgive them and is also what kept the heroesforgive them and is also what kept the heroes
alive for thousands of years after their deathsalive for thousands of years after their deaths

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