Greek Heroes Vs Modern Day Heroes

What makes a hero? Is it muscles? What about intelligence? In fact, in early Greek and Middle Eastern cultures, muscles and brains had nothing to do in the making of a hero. The definition of heroism means something different to everyone; however, the concepts of heroism differ greatly between Greek and Middle Eastern cultures and the modern idea such as the deeds one does and his or her attitude.
A hero is a hero whether it be fighting a bloody battle to save all the citizens in the city or it be saving a small animal from a tall tree. Both express attitudes of helping others and selflessness by putting others before oneself. Characteristics differ through time periods and locations but they all have a common goal of helping the greater good.
In Greek/ Middle Eastern cultures, most heroes were very strong and could duel dragons and huge monsters to save everyone. In stories like The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus led his crew though many dangerous and potentially fatal situations making sure he and his crew made it through safely. In many cases throughout the story, Odyssey puts his crew before himself making sure they were safe. This shows his selflessness which proves him as a hero. In modern day, a hero, explained by blog.richmond.edu, “A man admired for his achievements and noble qualities.” The article also states that anyone can be a hero which explains the example below.
An example of a modern day hero would be a firefighter, police officer, or even a medic. Take a minute and imagine a building with blazing flames coming out all the windows, smoke all in the sky, and a crowd gathered around. With a typical emergency like this one, the first people to show up, called “first responders”, after a 911 call is made is a firetruck, ambulance, and police cars. As the police remind all of the crowd to remain calm, the fire fighters rush into the burning building and evacuate any remaining people who may be trapped inside and proceed to direct the water shooting out of their hoses at the house to extinguish the flames. While all this is happening, the medics take care of any people who were injured which the flames finally get put out and the day has been saved. All of the people who put their lives on the line to save the people and end the fire would be considered a hero in today’s society. However, on the other hand, in Greek and Middle Eastern days, suddenly a dragon comes from nowhere and blows flames into the city burning down many houses and buildings. Everyone is panicking until one man rushing into town just in time to see what is happening. He rushes over to the scene and tells everyone to run and save themselves. He makes his way closer and
closer to the dragon and the dragon snarls at the man which the man tells the dragon to leave now or else. The dragon continues to spill flames from its mouth destroying the city more and more. The man has had enough and run to the dragon and engages into a battle eventually sending the dragon on its way back to where it came from. This man would be considered a hero due to the face that he battled the dragon when no one else wanted to and he could have died in the process.
Usually, in Greek and Middle Eastern ages, according to department.monm.edu, “…a man, often born of one mortal and one divine parent, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and often favored by the gods.” This is explaining how in the Greek ages, a hero was typically only men who were strong and who the gods liked. It was not every day a hero came about. Since in the past, women did not have major roles in life or in general society, it was fairly rare to find a woman who was considered a hero.
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, best friends Gilgamesh and Enkidu prove their heroism throughout the story in many feats such as facing death several times. In the story, Gilgamesh and Enkidu both face off with the Bull of Heaven due to angering Ishtar, the goddess of love, by rejecting her. Once the Bull of Heaven is killed, someone must be punished for the crime and Enkidu ends up being the guilty one. The gods sicken him and he dies. Once he dies, Gilgamesh is very saddened as told in the work: Six days and seven nights I mourned over him And would not allow him to be buried Until a maggot fell out of his nose I was terrified at his appearance I began to fear death, and so roam the wilderness.
In The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus goes through life-threatening adventures to return home to his family and his kingdom which has been without him for twenty years.
In one instance, where is a cyclops named Polyphemus is trying to kill Odysseus. Odysseus had been held captive by the cyclopes but one day Odysseus attempts to escape by poking out the cyclops’s eyeball and while he is running away, he yells back, “Nobody¬- that’s my name. Nobody- “… “so my mother and father call me, and my friends” (Homer 365). Once this happens the cyclops goes back to his fellow cyclopes and yells out, “Nobody, friends” …” Nobody’s killing me now by fraud and not by force!” (366) which confuses the other cyclopes because it sound like he is saying no one has hurt him. This shows that he deceives the cyclops so he can return back to his crew and continue his journey back
home.
Even though throughout time, history, and locations around the world, there have been many different definitions and concepts of the term heroism. Heroes are important wherever or whoever they are no matter what classification is put onto them. Anyone can be a hero, even you.