Heroes are typically depicted as great and powerful men. They are depicted as strong, brave, and protectors of others. Heroes are often thought of as being born with an innate sense of justice, or as having been given an extraordinary set of skills, abilities, talents, and abilities which allow them to overcome almost any obstacle in their path. A hero may be anyone who displays these traits; they can be humans, creatures, or other forms of animals. A hero’s journey is usually an inspiring one, and the hero usually struggles against evil or the dark.
What exactly makes a hero? According to famous writer and playwright William Shakespeare, a hero is “a nobleman, whose deeds are heroic, and who endures pain for others”. A hero, according to some historians, is a human being, a real individual or a corporation who, in face of great adversity, battles adversity through strength, courage, or ingenuity. In contrast, some scholars maintain that a hero is “a person who derives personal benefit from the sufferings of others”. In either case, the word “hero” has various other meanings, but what is known among professionals of heroic literature and in the field of philosophy is that a hero is not necessarily a man, and that boys and men are often regarded as such.
In Greek mythology, several types of hero are identified, including the godlike Aeneas, and his lover goddess Diana. Other ancient Greek heroes include Achilles, who was immortal and fought in Homer’s Illiad and the Odyssey; Hector, who fought in the Trojan Wars and the Wars of the Roses with Greek gods; and Persian king Cyrus, who subdued the world after conquering Babylon. Aeneas, among all the Greek heroes, is probably the most famous hero of all times. After he was thrown from his ship by his father, Aeneas escaped to Italy, where he established a city named after him and lived to an old age. While dying, however, Aeneas called to his children and fellow sailors to follow him into battle against his enemies, which they did, and to protect their home and family.
Achilles was a prince in Greece, born in Troy after crossing the river Elba. When he refused to surrender to the Trojans, they paraded him through the city and threw him to the wild beasts. Despite this, Achilles survived the ordeal, emerging a hero to be reckoned with. Later in life, he founded the city-state of Troy and became a great warrior and leader of his people.
The hero Bacchus, who is sometimes known as Bacchus the Beautiful, is the father of Dionysus, the god of wine and music. He was also a son of Hercules, the God of the Sun, by his marriage to Demeter, daughter of Apollo, the god of the sky. He is often represented holding a bridle and carrying a shield, two very common images for a Greek hero. He was a great warrior and a skilled wine maker and poet and is one of the most famous Greek heroes.
Other Greek heroes include Odysseus, who although born in Ithaca, is said to have fought against Hector when the latter fell from his horse, while Polyneices, the father of Eurydice, is said to have been swallowed by Jocasta while fighting her own daughter, Charmides. Aeneas is also a famous Greek hero, who fought against Troy while on his way to Italy, and later fought in Greece itself against the Trojans, although he was betrayed by his own men and forced to leave the field. He later returned to fight in the war against the Italians once more, but was killed in battle. Hector is known to have fought and eventually defeated one of his rivals for the throne, King Latinus of Latium and was recognized as a champion of justice, valor, and chivalry.