We have compiled for you the Top 10 Heroes Of Greek Mythology. Discover their most amazing legends and stories.
Heroes Of Greek Mythology
All the greats, from Achilles to Theseus. Brief biographies of the top 10 heroes of Greek mythology, including details of their exploits, the literary works in which they appeared, and more. Perfect for quick reference. Check out this list of people and places in Egyptian mythology.
The heroes of Greek mythology
The term “hero” is perhaps overused today, but these guys were the originals. Ancient Greek mythology was full of great heroes who slew monsters, fought entire armies, and loved (and lost) beautiful women. The full stories often reveal Hercules, Achilles, Perseus and others to be flawed characters…but their names have endured for millennia.
Achilles
As a child, Achilles’ mother dipped him in the river Styx, which made him invulnerable everywhere but the heel with which she held him. For ten years Achilles was a great hero in the Trojan War for the Greeks. But in the end, Paris, son of the Trojan king, fatally wounded Achilles in the heel. Today, the tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone is called the Achilles tendon, and a small but dangerous weakness is known as “Achilles heel”. If you want to know more read: Achilles
Hercules
The brave and mighty Hercules is perhaps the most beloved of all Greek heroes. The son of Zeus and Alcmene (granddaughter of Perseus), Hercules grew up to become a famous warrior. But Zeus’ jealous wife, Hera, drove him temporarily mad, and killed his wife and children. As punishment, Hercules performed twelve seemingly impossible labors, which have been the subject of countless works of art and theater. Hercules is often depicted wearing a lion skin and wielding a club.
Hector
Son of the king of Troy, Hector led the defense of the city in the Trojan War. Although the Trojans ultimately lost, Hector has been revered for his courage and nobility. As the story is told in Homer’s Iliad, the outcome of the Trojan War was largely in the hands of the gods.
Near the end of the story, Hector has to fight Achilles, the greatest warrior of the Greeks. Hector flees first, running through the city three times before overcoming his fear and turning to fight. As the duel progresses, Hector realizes that the gods have favored Achilles, however, even though he knows he is about to die, Hector fights bravely anyway.
Jason
Jason was the leader of the Argonauts, the 50 heroes who sailed in search of the Golden Fleece. Jason’s uncle, Pelias, had stolen the kingdom that should belong to Jason. He promised to return it only if Jason brought home the Golden Fleece, the wool of the magical winged ram that became the constellation Aries. On their journey, Jason and the Argonauts faced dangers such as deadly singing sirens. They finally captured the fleece with the help of the sorceress Medea, who became Jason’s wife.
Odysseus
King of Ithaca and a famous warrior, Odysseus helped the Greeks triumph in the Trojan War. He then traveled nearly ten years to return home to Ithaca and his wife Penelope. Along the way, Odysseus’ courage and intelligence saved him from monsters such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis. Back in Ithaca, Odysseus proved his identity to Penelope and returned to rule his homeland. These adventures are recounted in Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey. If you want to know more read: Odysseus
Perseus
Son of Zeus and Danaë, Perseus performed dangerous feats with his quick thinking and talent as a warrior. The most famous was his slaying of the Gorgon Medusa. Because looking directly at the monstrous Medusa would turn a man to stone, Perseus killed her while gazing at her reflection in a mirror. After decapitating the Gorgon with his sword, he kept her head in his satchel. Later, to save Princess Andromeda from being devoured by a sea monster, Perseus removed Medusa’s head and turned the creature into stone. If you want to know more read: Perseus
Prometheus
Although born of Titan Iapetto by Clymene or Themis, Prometheus foresaw the defeat of the Titans by the Olympian gods, so he allied himself with Zeus. However, Prometheus finally enraged Zeus by stealing fire and taking it to mankind. As punishment, Zeus gave Pandora (and, with her, all the evils of the world) to man, and condemned Prometheus to be chained to a rock in the Caucasus Mountains, where his liver was eaten daily by an eagle. According to some versions of the story, Prometheus was freed by Hercules.
Aeneas
Founder of the city of Rome and hero of Virgil’s Aeneid, Aeneas is a great protagonist of Greek and Roman mythology. He fought in the Trojan War on the side of the Trojans and, largely due to the fact that he was favored by Aphrodite, Apollo and Poseidon, was one of the few men on that side who did not die at the hands of the Greeks. When the war ended, he fled and ended up in Italy, where his descendants built Rome.
Orpheus
Son of Calliope and Apollo, Orpheus was a brilliant musician. When he played the lyre, he could charm wild animals and even make rivers stop. When Orpheus’ wife, Eurydice, died, he went down to the underworld to look for her. There, his music softened the heart of Hades, who let Orpheus take Eurydice back to the living world on one condition: Orpheus had to walk in front of Eurydice and could not look at her until they both left the underworld. But the temptation to see his beloved was too great, and Orpheus looked.
Theseus
Theseus was known for his triumph over numerous monsters, especially the Minotaur, who lived in a labyrinth on the island of Crete. Every year the people of Athens were forced to send fourteen young men to the Minotaur to eat alive. But Theseus, using a ball of magic thread from Princess Ariadne, found his way in and out of the labyrinth and killed the beast. Theseus was the son of Aegeus, king of Athens, or the sea god Poseidon. He later became king of Athens and a famous warrior.
