The heroes of Greek and Roman myth were often semi-divine, blessed with unique abilities and destined for greatness. The hero will usually undertake a great quest, conquering enemies and destroying monsters. Along the way he may receive assistance from the gods or encounter love. Whatever his trials and tribulations though, he will prevail.
These mythical heroes come from a tradition of oral storytelling that stretched back centuries, even millennia, before the stories were written down. In their origins, these myths drew on existing legends, past history and contemporary events for inspiration. They were then blended over time to form a complex universe of mythological characters.
This process of reimagining the gods and heroes continues even today, with ancient myths reflected in contemporary culture – from Superman to Harry Potter. For each new generation, at the heart of these stories is a discussion about what it means to be human, and how we believe a hero might represent what is best – or worst – about us.
