Greek Heroes

Heroes

  • Ovid ensured the survival of Greek metamorphosis stories.
  • No equivalent figure existed for hero stories, yet they are omnipresent in Greek myths.

Early Narrations of Greek Myths

  • The plots of the Iliad and the Odyssey guarantee the prominence of heroes at the dawn of Greek literature.
  • The immense popularity of these works ensured the renarration and elaboration of their protagonists' stories.

Types of Characters in Stories

  • Stories involve four types of characters:
    • Gods and supernatural creatures (angels, demons, etc.).
    • Ordinary people (humans).
    • Animals (real or anthropomorphic).
    • Heroes: humans with extraordinary status and abilities, retained after death, benefiting living worshippers.
  • Greek myths focus very little on ordinary people.
Ordinary People in Myths
  • Ordinary people occasionally play minor roles.
    • Local people help build Apollo's Delphic Oracle (Homeric Hymn to Apollo) and Cretan sailors staff it.
    • An old man tells Apollo where Hermes hid Apollo's cattle (Homeric Hymn to Hermes).
    • Phaedra's nurse intervenes in her mistress's affairs (Euripides's Hippolytus).
    • Choristers in Greek tragedies give advice, usually ignored by heroes.
  • Greek myths have very little to say about animals.
    • Different from African and Native American myths where animals are often protagonists.
    • In Greek myths, animals are narrative agents that do almost nothing.
    • Cattle are raided, rabbit pregnancy serves as an omen.
Exceptions of Animals as Narrative Agents:
  • Eagle conveys Ganymede to Zeus.
  • Eagle consumes Prometheus's liver.
  • Argus (Odysseus's dog) recognizes Odysseus.
  • Dolphin rescues Arion.
  • Only Argus and the Dolphin act of their own volition.
    • Eagles are tools serving Zeus.
Metamorphosis and Animals
  • People sometimes become animals.
  • Stories of metamorphosis focus on human behavior leading to transformation, not the animal itself.
Abnormal Animals in Myths
  • Animals in myths are abnormally large, fierce, swift, or are hybrids.
  • Almost any animal who is worth noticing in a myth is connected with a god, a hero, or both.
    • Child of a god (Pegasus, Cerberus, Lernaean Hydra).
    • Quarry of heroes (Cerberus, Lernaean Hydra, Nemean Lion).
    • Hero's steed (Pegasus, Xanthus, Balius).
Focus of Greek Myths
  • Myths primarily focused on gods and heroes.
  • Need to further define "hero."

Definition of a "Hero"

  • Heroes are humans who are born with or acquire status and abilities beyond that of other humans, which they retain after death and can use to benefit the living humans who worship them.
  • This definition covers a large and varied group in Greece.
Examples of Heroes
  • Perseus:
    • Son of Zeus.
    • Traveled to the end of the world.
    • Encountered Graeae and Stygian nymphs.
    • Beheaded Medusa using magical tools lent by gods.
    • Rescued a princess from a sea monster.
    • Used Medusa's head to petrify a wicked king.
    • Fantastic adventure tale, exotic climes, strange creatures.
      *Stories of Jason and Odysseus share such characteristics, as do episodes in Heracles' life.
  • Thymoetes:
    • Eponym of the Athenian deme Thymoetidae.
    • Bastard who killed his brother and seized the throne.
    • Last of Theseus's descendants to rule Athens.
    • Lost his life in battle.
    • Lacks fantastic details of Perseus's story.
    • Treated as a hero by Athenians; a superhuman entity who could benefit their lives if he were properly worshipped.
  • Iops:
    • Spartan hero, worshipped at a shrine outside the marketplace.
    • Born