Why don't we have any modern heros like in ancient Greece? I don't think a fireman will go down in mythology.

Answer 1

This is actually quite a complicated question. However, I'll try to keep my answer simple :) Basically, the heroes of the ancient Greeks, like Herakles (Hercules), Achilles, etc. had at least one parent that was divine. So, a firefighter of today cannot attain that heroic status unless she or he #1 accomplishes tasks that are way beyond what the ordinary human can do, and #2 has at least one parent that is a god or goddess. I don't know too many people who fall into either of those categories, but that second one is going to be especially difficult ;)

In our modern language we of course use the word "hero" a little bit differently than how the ancient Greeks used the word. To them, a hero was a person who did at one time live on earth (or so they believed), but after their death shrines were set up in their honor, at which people conducted rituals, poured libations, and even sacrificed animals, much like they did for the gods.

Also, one could not "officially" become a hero until after death, when the Oracle at Delphi or other such influential oracle could make such an announcement. The only exception to the rule that we know of is that Alexander the Great was proclaimed a hero while still alive by no less than three oracles.

Answer 2

Amma, the hugging saint, is our modern hero. She has embraced over 25 million people worldwide nonstop for the past 30 years without ever taking a day off nor a vacation, sleeping not more than 3 hours a day, barely eating, sitting in her chair for half of the day or maybe longer without getting up to go to the bathroom, all just so she can give Her children Her Love.

Answer 3

Mythology is like everything else about a society: it changes with time.

As such, our heroes will change too. Once upon a time, you could ask any child who Hercules or Theseus or St-George, or Beowul was and you probably would get an answer. I mean, think of famous figures in history. Lord Admiral Nelson, Sir Francis Drake, Genghis Khan, General Mongtomery, Neil Armstrong, Gandhi. there are stories told about them, how they accomplished whatever they did in their lives.

Those are the ones who are becoming part of our public folklore, and might be considered legends someday.

Answer 4

I think our culture has something very similar to the heroes of ancient Greece in the way we idolize celebrities. To me its like a Beyonce or Heidi Klum are like our Aphrodite. David Ortiz could be Hercules and Allen Iverson could be like Mercury. The list goes on and on. Celebrity worship is very big in this country.

Answer 5

A random fireman won't. But many of the real people of today might (Mother Theresa, Princess Diana, passengers on United 93, Osama bin Ladin, etc.) and some of our fictional creations as well (Superman, Sherlock Holmes, Frodo, etc.)

Because they're lasting charactors, who personify a certain feeling to us, now. Most of the people in America today did not live through World War Two, but we think of Hitler as a personification of evil and hatred, and we will teach our children to think that way, and they will teach their children, and so on and so forth.

Answer 6

Well,remember that the Greeks heroes were actually myths,so they were essentially not real. They were also set down in writing that has survived for thousands of years-perhaps someone from today would be considered a hero a thousand years from now (assuming that they existed of course)

Answer 7

Well, we do have our sports heroes. But then the most prolific Greek hero was Hercules, a drunken murderous beast who killed his wife in a drunken rage and was a formidable enemy in war. I prefer to remember heroes like Wilt Chamberlain and Mickey Mantle. Don't you?

Answer 8

Teehee, what about G. Dubya? Not quite 'hero,' unless we rename the USA 'the US of Enron...'

Answer 9

good ? we have strayed from our path and forgoten the way