Heroes Among Us

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Heroes play very significant roles in their cultures; they are honored and idealized by the members of their culture. They are admired because of their qualities and achievements, as well as, their courage. Hermes and Artemis, of Greek mythology, are perfect examples of a hero and heroine and they exhibit archetypal elements in many different ways. Hermes gained notoriety through trickery and deceit in aiding his closest comrades, while Artemis’ heroism can be attributed to her unparalleled compassion for the well-being of animals.
First, Artemis was born to Letos and Zeus on the island of Delos (Littleton 157). Artemis is one of the twelve great Olympians. When she was a child, she requested three things from Zeus. These three wishes include remaining a virgin forever, possessing bows and arrows like her brother Apollo, and she wanted all of the mountains in the world to be hers (O’Neal 25). Next, Artemis was a very attractive girl and she got the attention of many (Littleton 157). One day, according to a myth, Artemis was bathing in a spring with her nymphs, when they noticed someone watching them. Artemis, because she didn’t want anyone to see her naked, immediately transformed him into a deer (Gall 4). In another myth, Artemis fell in love with Orion. Orion was a skilled hunter, but he was devoted to Eos. Artemis, because if her stubbornness, killed him with one of her arrows (Gall 110).
Then, Artemis is known as the “goddess of hunting, the wilderness, mountains, forests, and uncultivated lands” (Littleton 156). She is “the protector of women” and her arrows “brought painless death to women” (Gall 108). Artemis helped her mother during childbirth and brought Letos “no pain.” Therefore, she is also the goddess of childbirth...

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...an Mythology. Abyla to Atalanta. Cleveland, OH: Lincoln Library, 2006. Print.
Gall, Timothy L., and Susan B. Gall: The Lincoln Library of Greek and Roman Mythology. Dis Pater to Janus. Cleveland, OH: Lincoln Library, 2006. Print.
“Hermes.” Encyclopedia Mythica. Encyclopedia Mythica Online. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
“Hermes.” Godchecker: Your Guide to the Gods. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.
Littleton, C. Scott. Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology: V.2 (Ares-Celts). Tarrytown, New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2005. Print.
Littleton, C. Scott. Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology: V.5 (Gorgons-Inanna). Tarrytown, New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2005. Print.
Napoli, Donna Jo, and Christian Balit. Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, & Monsters. Washington: National Geography Society, 2011. Print.
O’Neal, Claire. Artemis. Hockessin, DE: Mitchell Lane, 2008. Print.

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