It is conceivable that the mythological heroes of the Greeks and Romans were originally inspired by the leaders and warriors of the distant past. Part history and part legend, the stories that developed around these heroes were moulded and embellished by subsequent generations as a way of exploring and understanding their collective past.
It was also possible for living Greeks and Romans to be worshipped as heroes during their lifetimes, and in some cases to be deified after death. Those who were venerated in their lifetimes sprang from many of the same sources as traditional heroes – military commanders, political leaders, athletes or master musicians. To achieve the status of a living hero was no simple feat. It required that the candidate achieve great things, seemingly beyond the capabilities of mere mortals. These achievements gave them a power that the Greeks and Romans believed extended the hero’s sphere of influence beyond death.
