10 Great Heroes of Greek Mythology | Great Greek gods And Demigods

Greek mythology is rich and vast and is replete with some of the most heroic figures of all time. Even today, these characters inspire the protagonists of books, comics, movies, tv shows, video games and pretty much all types of pop culture. This article is about 10 great Greek gods and demigods who are visualised as heroes and saviours. So here is our list of 10 great heroes of Greek mythology.

Heracles

Son of Zeus, the God of the Sky and ruler of all other gods, Heracles (alias Hercules) is perhaps the most beloved and popular Greek Hero. This terrifically strong warrior has a wonderful backstory. Zeus’ wife Hera temporarily drove him insane, leading to catastrophic events. To atone for his deeds, Heracles had to perform 12 heroic tasks.

Atlas

Atlas was punished to hold the sky on his shoulders for all of eternity after Titanomachy. This proves him to be an immensely strong hero, even though he may not have won the war.

Achilles

This Greek hero is invincible, except for one heel, because his mother dipped him as an infant into the River Styx. While doing that his mother held him by one of his heel. Thus, his heel is the only vulnerable body part, making him almost immortal. He then serves as a warrior in the Trojan war, winning innumerable battles and defending his country. However, the son of the Trojan King, Paris with the help of the God Apollo, ultimately defeats him due to his mortal heel. Even today, the ‘chink in an armour’ is called an Achilles’ heel.

Jason

This hero earned his name due to his supreme quest in search of the Golden Fleece. Jason’s kingdom was stolen by his uncle, Pelias. In order to redeem himself and win back his kingdom, Jason carried out a quest to dangerous lands to obtain the Golden Fleece. He was also the leader of the Argonauts and faced deadly dangers such as the Sirens in his quest.

Odysseus

The king of Ithaka was immortalized in great poet Homer’s epic poem ‘The Odyssey’ and for good reason. It was Odysseus who became the focal point of the Trojan War and helped the Greeks triumph. On his journey back to Ithaka as well, he faced dangers. These included the deadly Sirens, the one-eyed giant Cyclops and more.

Prometheus

In the ancient war between the Titans and the Olympians, the Olympians defeated the Titans. Even though Prometheus took birth in the Titan community, he knew their defeat was unavoidable. And so he became a close ally of Zeus but ended up betraying the God by giving mankind access to fire. For this, he suffered severe punishment as well.

Aeneas

A great warrior during the Trojan war, Aeneas was one of the only people to survive when the Greeks defeated the Trojans. He has connections with the Greek gods, and is the protagonist of Virgil’s classic Aeneid. In fact, he is also the founder of the ancient city of Rome, and one of the most beloved heroes in both Greek and Roman mythology.

Bellerophon

He is considered one of the most majestic and strong heroes of Ancient Greece and a regular slayer of monsters and demons. In fact, the credit for the riddance of the Chimera, a monster with the lion’s face, goat’s body and serpent’s tail goes to him. He also captured the divine half-horse Pegasus.

Orpheus

Orpheus is not only a gifted warrior of Greece but also one of its most talented artists. Popular for his knack with the lyre, Orpheus is a musician of the highest order. He also has unbridled courage, as he journeys to the underworld to reclaim his wife Eurydice from the clutches of Hades. He also wrote poetry and travelled in search of the Golden Fleece with Jason.

Perseus

Perseus is the hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa, who had snakes for her hair and could turn anyone who looked at her into a stone statue. He is also the founder of the legendary city Mycenae and a great warrior king in his own right.

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