THE GREEK HEROES

: "In mythology and legend, a man or woman, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his or her bold exploits, and favored by the gods."

If a hero is properly defined as somebody

who does something dangerous to help

somebody else, then the heroes of Greek

mythology generally do not qualify. They

were a pretty selfish bunch, often with some

antisocial issues--in other words, not exactly

role models for the younger generation of

today.

But knowing their names and exploits is

essential for understanding references in

literature and even popular culture today.

So let's recognize and celebrate Hercules

and Perseus and the others by their proper

dictionary definition…

ACHILLESDemi-God: His mother was

the nymph, Thetis, and his father was Peleus, King of the Myrmidons.

Zeus and Poseidon both desired Thetis, but Prometheus warned them that she would bear a son greater than his father. They quickly lost interest.

Great Greek Warrior of All Time

His Miraculous Power… Thetis was worried about her

son’s mortality, so she took him to the Underworld, and dipped his tiny body in the River Styx.

As she dunked him the dark waters, she held the baby by his ankle.

An arrow shot into his heel is said to have done in him in. Thus, the term “Achilles Heel” refers to a person’s weak spot.

The Great Warrior His father Peleus gave

him to Chiron, the centaur, to be raised, educated, and trained.

Homer’s Iliad – Achilles is the main character

He went to Troy looking for eternal glory, and found it.

He defeated Hector, mighty Prince and warrior of Troy

Killed by the poisoned arrow of Paris, the cowardly Prince of Troy

PERSEUS Son of Zeus and Danae , a

princess.

It was prophesized she would give

birth to a son of Zeus who would

kill the King…yep. One of THOSE

stories.

After hearing the prophecy, her

dad locks her in a bronze chamber,

open to the sky.

Zeus came to her in a bronze

shower, and impregnated her.

His Early Life The King, fearing his grandson, put him and the child’s mother in a wooden box and through it into the ocean.

The two survived, and washed up on the shore of an island, and were taken in by the King there.

Eventually, that king fell in love with Danae, and Perseus wasn’t really that cool with it.

The King threw a party, where each guest was supposed to bring a gift. (Remember, “A Religious Duty”???

His First Quest Perseus forgot to get the gift, and

offered the King anything he could name. The King asked for the head of Medusa, the Gorgon

Perseus was obligated to oblige. Thankfully, a lot of the gods chipped in some help Athena gave him a polished sheild, and a hook-

up with the Hesperides (who gave him a knapsack to store the head)

Hermes lent him his winged sandals

Zeus gave him an adamantine sword

Hades gave him the Helm of Darkness

Using the reflection of his shield, he was able to slay Medusa, chopping off her head (from which Pegasus sprang)

Marriage to Andromeda Cassiopeia, queen of Ethiopia,

bragged that her daughter Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids, sea nymphs.

Poseidon was enraged, and sent a flood, and his sea monster to destroy the town

The only way it could be stopped was to sacrifice Andromeda to the monster. She was chained naked to a rock, and left to die.

Perseus saved her using either the winged sandals or Pegasus, and claimed her in marriage.

THESEUS

Son of Aethra, a mortal

princess, and Poseidon

Aegus, her husband, also

claimed parentage

Founder of Athens

Growing Up Raised in his mother’s land,

not the land of Aegeus Eventually, his mother told

him of his heritage. To claim his birthright, he would have to travel to his father’s kingdom.

He could go there by land or by sea; he chose by land. On the way, he killed a lot of bandits, and passed the Six Entrances to the Underworld.

His Birthright He came to Athens, the land of

his father Aegeus. He did not immediately reveal his identity.

The wife of Aegeus did, though. Her name was Medea

She tried a couple times to poison him or kill him.

The Minotaur Years before, Athens had been defeated by King Minos.

Every seven years, Athens had to send 7 courageous boys and girls to Minos’ island Crete, to be put into the Labyrinth of the Minotaur

Theseus volunteered for this duty, taking the place of one of the youths bound for Crete

The Minotaur The princess of Crete fell in love with Theseus when he arrived on Crete.

On the advice of Daedalus, she gave Theseus a ball of yarn before he entered the Labyrinth.

Theseus used the string, leaving a trail behind him so he could find his way out.

He got to the middle of the maze and found the Minotaur, sleeping.

After killing it, he escaped the Labyrinth, rescued the other victims, and saved the princess.

HERACLESSon of Zeus and Alcmene, a

mortal

Roman name- Hercules (more

commonly called this)

Extraordinary strength,

courage, ingenuity and sexual

prowess were among his

characteristic attributes

Birth and Childhood

Hera, queen of the gods, hated Hercules because he was a living reminder of her husband’s infidelity.

When he was a baby, she sent two vipers to his crib. Thankfully, Hercules used his god-like strength to strangle the serpents

The Choice of a Youth When on a mountain

tending cattle, a young Hercules was approached by two nymphs- Pleasure and Virtue.

They offered him a choice—a pleasant and easy life, or a severe and glorious life—and he chose the latter.

Marriage and Tragedy

He later married Megara, princess of Thebes. They had a few children together

In a fit of madness brought on by Hera, he killed his children and family.

In horror, he fled his home and sought out the Oracle of Delphi.

The Oracle had been convinced by Hera to lie to Hercules, and told him his punishment was working for ten years for King Eurystheus, thus resulting in the Twelve Labors of Hercules

Twelve Labors1. Slay the Nemean Lion.

2. Slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra.

3. Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis.

4. Capture the Erymanthian Boar.

5. Clean the Augean stables in a single day.

6. Slay the Stymphalian Birds.

7. Capture the Cretan Bull.

8. Steal the Mares of Diomedes.

9. Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.

10. Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon.

11. Steal the apples of the Hesperides.

12. Capture and bring back Cerberus.

Later… He joined Jason and Argonauts on their quest to find the Golden Fleece

He won an archery contest, where the prize was the princess’ hand in marriage. After winning, he was denied his prize.

He slew the King and his son (save one, who was his friend) and abducted the princess so they could be wed.

Eventually, Hera struck again. She drove him mad, and in a fit, he threw his brother-in-law off a tower wall

As penance for murder, he entered the servitude of Queen Omphale of Lydia

Other Cool Stuff He served under Queen

Omphale for one year. She forced him to do women’s

work and wear woman’s clothes She fell in love with him, and

married them. They had a child together

He went on various adventures with the Argonauts

One legend tells of Hercules shooting and killing the eagle that tortured Prometheus, and breaking his chains.