Seven Types of Ancient Heroes - Research Paper Example

 The concept of the ancient hero is deeply embedded in the history of literature as an indispensable element in any epic story. The hero is the culmination of the strength and power as the epitome of the saviour of his community. He is the person tasked to lead an army in battle and to represent his country in the pursuit of glory and to defend its honour. Every nation in ancient literature is represented by a hero who symbolizes the degree of valor that is attributed to it. But this is not to say that a hero is necessarily perfect. On the contrary, most heroes are flawed in character and in physical susceptibility. The difference lies in the subsequent compulsion of the character to carry on with his task. In this area, there is also the concurrence of destiny and the will of the gods that determine whether or not he will succeed in his journey and his quest for the ubiquitous notion of glory. Lewis Richard Farnell in his book “Greek Hero Cults and Ideas of Immortality” classified the classes of heroes into seven, they are; (a) the hieratic type of hero-gods and heroine-goddesses whose name or legend suggests a cult-origin ; (b) sacral heroes or heroines associated with a particular divinity, as apostles, priests, or companions ; (c) heroes who are also gods, but with secular legend, such as Herakles, the Dioskouroi, Asklepios ; (d) culture- and functional heroes, the 'Sondergotter ' of Usener's theory, usually styled by the Greeks themselves ; (e) epic heroes of entirely human legend ; (f) geographical, genealogical, and eponymous heroes and heroines, transparent fictions for the most part, such as Messene and Lakedaimon ; (g) historic and real personages” (p. 19). This classification was categorized according to the historic and psychological value. It must be remembered that each of these categories are not mutually exclusive as there are a number of times when they do overlap as a manner of description. In the case of Achilles and Aeneas who belong to the first kind of hero-gods as well as to the third kind who are heroes and also gods with secular legend. Both heroes are born with divinity in their blood coupled with human heritage. This instigates a perception that these characters are automatically elevated into a position much higher than that of a mortal but a notch lower than the position of a verified deity. They are regarded with respect not only by men but also by the gods. Glory may be regarded as synonymous with immortality from an analysis of ancient literature. They are analogous in that one is the by-product of the other and vice versa. There is nothing in this world greater than the achievement of immortality for someone who is mortal. Death brings the end of all things. The idea of being able to live on even when one’s material presence is no longer in existence is the absolute objective of any hero. This can be attained through victory in battle as glory brings forth the immortalization of a hero in the eyes of the people. Through their words and stories of epic battles they remain as integral part of history. This is the triumph sought by any hero. It is a victory that surpasses the actual day of an enemy’s surrender. A transcendental glory that is more than ephemeral. The interplay of the Greek and Roman culture is one of the most interesting aspects of Western civilization that has gathered countless scholarly publication for comparative analysis. Arguably the most popular and widely accepted works of literature of each is Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid. The two authors had served as Canons of Literature and became the standard for Western drama through their works of art. Quite notable is the apparent reality that the Iliad has gained more popularity over the centuries and Virgil’s masterpiece has taken a back seat in this race. But this does not inevitably conclude that the former is far superior to the latter. In fact, there are aspects of Aeneid that appeal to the more sensible characteristics of man that the pure maniacal hubris that perplex the story of Iliad. Glory in the Roman epic encompasses something that is much more personal than in its Greek counterpart. The story of Aeneid covers the flight from Troy for seven years and their arrival in Italy where Rome was subsequently established. Aeneas was a hero who fought not only for his personal glory but for the very existence of his state and his fellow men. Comparatively, Achilles is a reluctant player in the Trojan War who was only compelled to take part in it because of the Greek allegiance that he cannot sway. Furthermore, his quest for immortality is insatiable despite the constant warnings of his mother that joining in the war will only bring his demise. "Or do the gods inspire This warmth, or make we gods of our desire? A gen'rous ardor boils within my breast, Eager of action, enemy to rest: This urges me to fight, and fires my mind To leave a memorable name behind” (Virgil, p.213) These lines delivered by Nisus through the war gives a clear indication of the influence of gods in the lives of the people. Where it is inevitable that their every move is governed by the actions or inactions of gods and that whether or not you are favoured yields to the conclusion of your every endeavour would naturally suppress one’s willingness and ability to continue on in battle or even in life itself. But these are of no consequence to a hero who must always prove himself despite the circumstances. To be ever grateful on the help extended to him and to dismiss the tribulations that is sent in his way. The passage questions not only the acts of gods but also of men. How a battle can only trigger the best out of a person that he may be able to give everything the he’s got for his cause. Instead of cowering to the sides, it is a fight or flee situation that defines a hero. It serves as fuel to fire up the desire to win over all obstacles made by men or higher beings. The last two lines is also recognition on the true intention of those who are fighting in a war. This is the simple fact of leaving behind a name with honor that his family and his state will be proud of. Because no one wants to die with only stories of cowardice, it is the direct opposite that is sought by any honorable man. In Aeneid, the quest is for the grander goal of building a new state from the ashes of Troy. It is the epic journey of a country that would continue its tradition in new frontier from the rubbles of its past. Achilles is another story. Throughout the Iliad it may be noted that he had but a few appearance compared to other heroes such as Hector, Odysseus, Ajax, etc. “Of all the heroes of all the sagas he impresses us, thanks to the genius of Homer, as a very live man” (Farnell, p. 285). But what is so distinct about him is that despite this fact, the Iliad revolved around him. “Achilles is a much better man than he is, and see how he has treated him- robbing him of his prize and keeping it himself” (Homer, p.31). The wrath of Achilles in Agamemnon’s taking of Briseis is the moving factor that though there were but few sightings of him, these scenes were enough to establish the intensity and the force of his character in the development of the story. Achilles, immortalized by so many other cultural figures attributed in his semblance, gives of the aura and the persona of a Grecian hero that nobody else can compare to. The complexity of this Greek hero has hailed him to be the most distinguishable character in the enormity of the books of the Iliad. Hero and glory are both pieces of the same puzzle. For there can be no hero if he cannot achieve glory and glory can only make a once ordinary man a hero. These two are interchangeable in the sense that one cannot exist without the other. In these ancient epics we are configured to think that a hero already existed when he was born, i.e. Achilles and Aeneas who were both born of godly ascendancy only waiting to fulfil their destiny of greatness through battles predestined for them to overcome. But the same may not be imperatively true for though they may have been gifted with incredible strength and less to absolute impenetrability, it is only when they are thrown into battle that they emerge as the hero they were destined to be. A hero is proven for glory is not laid down in a silver platter. There are battles that needed to be fought and enemies that had to be conquered. This is what both characters proved. Immortality is the idea of having an endless existence. The very fact that they continue to be part of our lives through generations and for thousands of years is the very definition of glory. To be hailed in the grandeur of exceeding your own time to live on forever is the greatest realization of anyone’s life. This is the beauty of literature and the effect it can bring to the lives of others. It is the force that captivates the authority of a successful hero. A hero is someone who cannot be easily forgotten because of the immensity of his acts that led to the upliftment of others. This is true not only in literature but also in real life. Glory takes so many forms but at its core it is the memory that never fades but is only passed down that one can be made a hero in the eyes of others. Bibliography Church, Alfred J. Greek Heroes and Kings. London: Seeley, Jakson & Halliday, 1883. Farnell, Lewis Richard. Greek Hero Cults and Ideas of Immortality. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1921. Homer. Trans. Butler, S. The Iliad. Orange Street Press, 1998. Virgil. Trans. Dryden, J. The Aeneid. Templeton Honors College Edition, 1998. Read More