If a dictionary defines one form of a hero as referring to a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life, then the heroes of Greek Mythology do not qualify. The Greeks define a tragic hero differently. Oedipus, Antigone, and Hecuba all fit this description of a tragic hero. Their qualities were exhibited throughout the whole of their respective stories.
There are certain distinguishing characteristics that many Greek heroes have in common. Others are simply exceptions, and have their own unique qualities. Antigone is the biggest exception. Usually it is found that most Greek heroes do not die at the end. Most often they live with the burden of their consequences. They learn a lesson the hard way without taking their own lives the way Antigone did. Hecuba reinforces her belief of living when she says, "I tell you death is a nothingness; however painful life is it is better than death: it has hope. I prefer life at its worst to death at its best." (41).
Another characteristic of a tragic Greek is their high position. These three, even though Hecuba's through marriage, all have a very high status in society. The reason that most Greek heroes are of a high status is because they have a lot to lose and all tragic Greek heroes have to lose something; sometimes even everything. .
The Greek hero battles fate with excessive pride and intelligence yet follows his fate, making some serious mistakes. No Greek hero knows fate like King Oedipus. He was destined by fate to kill his father then marry his mother and this is exactly what ended up happening to him. Although he tried to run away from this fate, he was unable to. There had been nothing he could do about it and he was forced to suffer from his actions. "To be wise is to suffer", (34). This describes the King in a sense, because even though he tried to be wise and avoid a tragedy, he was not able to and therefore suffered.
One of those civilizations was Greece. The Greeks gave the people of the world so much. ... In these festivals the Greeks had athletics games to which all Greeks were invited. ... There is only on winner in the games, and they receive a wreath made of olive leaves and sometimes received the name of being a hero. ... There are many philosophers from Greece. ...
Greek Hero's and Their Society The Greek heroes served society by demonstrating the morals and values of the Greek Gods in humanistic terms. All Greek heroes had similar characteristics and qualities. ... Greek heroes shared the human condition of mortality. ... Every Greek hero needed a quest to become a champion among the Greek people. ... Zeus was the father of many Greek heroes. ...
Epic Heroes The authors of the magnificent Iliad and Crito wrote what is a reflection of the Greek society at that time. Achilles and Socrates both are a reflection of the Greek man in that period. ... The Greek culture at the time was at a heroic age, Achilles portrayed himself as a hero by defeating Hector and his army, and he brought glory to his tribe and himself. ... The Greek society was dominated by males, and those qualities portrayed the general idea of society at the time. ... Having examined their different situations, Achilles and Socrates both are a reflection of the Gree...
Ancient Greek Society Ancient Greece thrived from the third millennium to the first century B.C. The term "ancient Greece" refers culturally to the ways ancient Greeks spoke, worshiped, understood the nature of the physical world, organized their governments, made their livings, entertained themselves, and related to others who were not Greek. ... Many of the myths informed how all of these gods or goddesses were heroes. ... Greek sons studied to become great citizens of Greece rather than working people. ... Slaves had no power or status in Ancient Greece. ...
Monsters and heroes in Greek myth There are several Greek myths that involve monsters, which we know could not have actually existed. This raises the question of why there are monsters in Greek myth. In Greek mythology monsters serve to set heroes apart from regular humans. ... This is why, in many Greek myths, heroes receive divine intervention. ... Monsters were created in Greek mythology to represent natural human fear of the unsafe and the unknown. ...
The ancient Greeks have made many influential achievements. ... We still use Greek-style architecture today. ... Ancient Greeks created art because they were inspired by their gods, goddess, and heroes. ... Modern drama can be traced back to Greece in the 6th Century BC, which was yet another amazing achievement by the Greeks. ... Greeks mostly preformed tragedies and comedies. ...
The Odyssey cannot be accurately dated and is attributed to the poet Homer who lived in an area of Asia Minor that was settled by Greek colonists. ... The main character (or hero) in the poem is Odysseus who is the son of Laertes, King of Ithaka. ... The hero in this poem is Rama who is the son of Dasaratha, the King of Kosala. ... These two poems have very different notions of what makes a hero. ... It demonstrates the difficult, physical life that the Greeks may have led, and their beliefs in their God's. ...
A hero is of four types: the mythological hero, the tragic hero, the modern hero, and the fantasy hero. Throughout ancient times the word hero was very common especially in the Greek society. In the Greek Mythology a hero is often referred to as a man of divine ancestry, who is gifted with great courage and strength, celebrated for his braveness, and favored by gods. ... Achilles, the tragic Greek hero of the Trojan War, is a very good example of a mythological hero. ... Considered to be the best Greek warrior of his time, he does not act as a true hero when he has to help the Greeks in the ...
Medea: the Tragic Hero Aristotle's tragic hero is defined in Poetics and consists of five essential characteristics. Although some tragedies did not follow Aristotle's model, the list of characteristics that Aristotle describes became a prototype and outline for many Greek tragedy writers. ... Aristotle states that a tragic hero must be noble, which means that the hero must be of high social class possessing moral qualities as well as unique abilities. ... Medea's slaying of her own children is part of the third characteristic of Aristotle's tragic hero. ... This real...