The Greek Hero Defined

Humans have the innate need to feel as if something greater than their species exists in the world, thus they created a need for heroes. Heroes of the modern age tend to be reserved, isolated people that have suffered some sort of tragedy in their pasts. While blinded by those tragedies, modern heroes, such as Batman, overcome those emotional hurdles, and rise victorious in an otherworldly, godly nature. While modern heroes tend to be fictional and give people hope of an all-powerful protector, Greek heroes were more approachable and realistic as they relied heavily on the gods. By using the archetypal hero cycle, the Greek hero is defined as a mortal of royal descent who embraces the nature of humanity in order to gain honor from the gods.

The archetypal hero cycle is a series of 17 steps, which explain a hero’s journey from his initiation up until he gains his freedom to live. As explained by Campbell in his book, The Hero With A Thousand Faces, the hero cycle is a series “of three phases, including the departure… initiation,… and the return” (Handout). These phases of initiation, departure and return break down the 17-stepped hero cycle into smaller, more specific segments, which are included in those three main phases. Following the guidelines that Campbell set in place Perseus is the epitome of an archetypal Greek hero. With the blood of both gods and royalty, Perseus was brought up in a rich environment where he would eventually grow into his destiny. From the moment Perseus left his home, his hero cycle had already begun. Perseus’ hero cycle would not be finished until the young royal returned home and completed his 17 steps.

With all heroes, there is a certain task that one must undergo to transform him into a greater bein...

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...ects of his quest. Athena and Hermes supplied the boy with a shield, a sword, knowledge and other items necessary for the completion of his quest. This godly assistance validates the gods’ belief in the Perseus and brings the demigod a sense of entitlement and hope. The end of the supernatural assistance step shows that the hero is now physically and mentally prepared for the rest of his quest due to the gods’ belief in him.

The final battle a Greek hero must conquer is appeasing the Gods and returning home alive and victorious. Different from a modern hero who has to appease no one and becomes a sort of god him or herself, the Greek hero has many more consequences if he or she does not succeed. This distinction shows how the Greeks felt obliged to honor their gods in order to live a trouble free life and how modern people see their heroes as gods instead of humans.