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- Hercules (Herakles or Heracles) Son of Zeus and nemesis of the goddess Hera, Hercules was always too powerful for his foes. He is perhaps best known for his fantastic feats of strength and daring, often called the "12 Labors."
- Achilles. Achilles was the Greeks' finest warrior during the Trojan War. His mother, the nymph Thetis, dipped him in the River Styx to make him invulnerable in battle—except for his heel, where she gripped the baby.
- Theseus. Theseus was the Athenian hero who liberated his city from the tyranny of King Minos of Crete. Every year, the city had to send seven men and seven women to Crete to be devoured by the monstrous Minotaur.
- Odysseus. A crafty and capable warrior, Odysseus was the king of Ithaca. His exploits in the Trojan War were documented by Homer in the "Iliad" and further in the "Odyssey," which chronicled Odysseus' 10-year struggle to return home.
- Heracles
- Achilles
- Odysseus
- Theseus
- Perseus
- Jason
- Atalanta
- Orpheus
- Bellerophon
- Aeneas
Popularly known by his Roman name ‘Hercules’, Heracles was the son of the god Zeus and a mortal, Alcmene. He famously possessed super strength. Heracles’ heroic victories are called the ‘12 Labours’ and include slaying a 9-headed hydra and taming Cerberus, the hound of Hades. Unfortunately, Heracles’ wife, worried he might have another lover, smear...
The greatest Greek warrior of the Trojan War, Achilles is the main character of Homer’s poem, the Iliad. His mother, the nymph Thetis, made him almost invincible in battle by dunking him in the River Styx, all except for his heel where she gripped him. While battling the Trojans, Achilles displayed his military skill when he killed Troy’s beloved p...
Odysseus had so many adventures he appears in both Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. A clever and capable warrior, he was nicknamed Odysseus the Cunning. Odysseus was also the rightful King of Ithaca, and after fighting in the Trojan War he spent 10 years struggling to get home to retake his throne. Along the way, Odysseus and his men faced numerous chall...
Theseus was an Athenian hero who fought the tyranny of King Minos of Crete. Under Minos, Athenshad to send 7 men and 7 women each year to be eaten by the Minotaur, a hybrid creature that was part bull, part man. Theseus vowed to defeat Minos, slay the beast and restore Athens’ dignity. With the help of the Minotaur’s half-sister, Ariadne, Theseus e...
Perseus was the son of Zeus, conceived when Zeus disguised himself as a shower of gold to seduce Perseus’ mother, Danae. In revenge, Danae’s husband had her and Zeus’ infant son locked in a coffin and thrown in the sea. Half man and half god, only Perseus survived. The gods helped Perseus to defeat Medusa, the snake-haired gorgon, who had been curs...
The son of a deposed king, Jason set out to find the legendary Golden Fleece, which was the fleece of a magical winged ram and was a symbol of authority and kingship. Jason hoped finding the fleece would restore his place on the throne. He gathered a crew of heroes known as the Argonauts, including Atalanta, Hercules and Orpheus, before setting sai...
Growing up wild, Atalanta could hunt as well as any man. When the angry goddess Artemis sent the Calydonian Boar to ravage the land, Atalanta defeated the beast. She then joined Jason’s quest as the only woman aboard the ship, Argo. Atalanta famously vowed to marry the first man who could beat her in a foot race. Hippomenes was able to distract the...
More a musician than a fighter, Orpheus was an Argonaut on Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece. Orpheus also bravely ventured to the Underworld to bring back his wife, Eurydice, who died after being bitten by a snake. He approached the Underworld’s rulers, Hades and Persephone, and persuaded Hades to give him a chance to bring Eurydice back to life...
Bellerophon was the son of Poseidon. He could tame one of Greek mythology’s most notorious creatures, Pegasus, and together they made a powerful team. Bellerophon was wrongly accused of taking advantage of King Iobates of Lycia’s daughter, Stheneboea. The king set Bellerophon dangerous tasks hoping he would fail but, to Iobates’ surprise, Belleroph...
Aeneas was the son of the Trojan prince Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite. Although a minor character in Homer’s Iliad, Aeneas’ story was worthy of his own epic, theAeneid, by the Roman poet Virgil. Aeneas led the survivors of the Trojan War to Italy, where he gained a starring role in Roman mythology. Aeneas’ long voyage involved stops in Thrace,...
- Achilles. Achilles is one of the most well-known heroes in Greek mythology, famous for his incredible strength, bravery, and fighting prowess. He was the son of the mortal Peleus and the sea nymph Thetis, who dipped him in the river Styx as a baby, making him nearly invulnerable, except for his heel, which she held onto during the dipping process.
- Odysseus. Odysseus, also known as Ulysses in Roman mythology, is one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythology, and the main character of Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey.
- Hercules. Hercules, more known as Heracles in Greek mythology, is perhaps the most famous of all Greek heroes. He was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and a mortal woman named Alcmene.
- Perseus. Perseus was an important hero, particularly for the Athenians. This hero was known for his bravery and ingenuity in slaying the Gorgon Medusa and rescuing Andromeda from a sea monster.
- Hercules. The most popular and possibly most admired hero from Greek mythology is Hercules. The story of Hercules resonates with many because of his strength and perseverance to conquer many labors and challenges in life.
- Prometheus. Prometheus was born a Titan god and was responsible for providing mankind with gifts to help them survive and succeed. Prometheus gave mankind the gift of fire, but how the gift was given can be told different ways.
- Achilles. Achilles was born to the sea nymph, Thetis. To make her son immortal, Thetis submerged Achilles into the River Styx while holding Achilles by his heel.
- Odysseus. Odysseus was the King of Ithaca who provided much wisdom, counsel, and intelligence during the Trojan War. Odysseus recruited Achilles to lead the Trojan War, which contributed to the Greek victory.
Jan 13, 2024 · 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.
- Carol Woods
Feb 18, 2024 · The world of ancient Greek mythology is rather captivating, from its omnipotent gods to its most revered heroes. Below we will explore the legendary sagas of the iconic figures of the Greek Mythos, those who left an indelible mark on both human history and imagination.
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Jun 20, 2023 · But the most famous Greek heroes were known to all Greeks, featuring in mythical narratives immortalized in literature and art. The list below names some of the most notable heroes of Greek mythology, including great warriors as well as artists, healers, and founders of cities. Achilles