what it means to be a hero
According to Joseph Cambell's hero structure for "The Hero With A Thousand Faces", a hero must venture his journey, that is, Departure, Initiation, and Return as a hero with a gift to improve the world. The stories of Perseus, Heracles, Achilles, Julius Caesar follow his theory closely.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was ruled under the power of Pharaoh(becoming divine after death), who developed served to legitimize the state control and unity f the Egyptian people by means of a elaborate system of religious believes. Pharaoh also made land grants to his mortuary cults and local temples to ensure these institutions would have the necessary resources to worship the pharaoh after his death. The peak o Ancient Egypt's power was during the reign of Ramesses II of 19th dynasty. He created many more splendid temples, such as Abu Simbel on the Nubian border he recovered territories in the Levant conquest the battle of Kadesh. Sun worship was exceptionally prevalent in ancient Egyptian religion. The Sun's movement across the sky represents a struggle between the Pharaoh's soul and an avatar of Osiris. The "solarisation" of several gods (Hnum-Re, Min-Re, Amon-Re) reaches its peak in the period of the fifth dynasty.
Ancient Greek
Perseus
Perseus was the first mythic hero in Greek mythology. He was born in half immoral; he was son of Zeus who came to Perseus's mother in the form of shower of gold and impregnated her. Perseus and his mother then were sent away by his grand father, the King Acrisus of Argos who was warned by an oracle that he would be killed in time by his daughter's son. Persseus was raised by fisherman Dictys whose brother Polydectes fell in love with Perseus's mother and sent Perseus away in disgrace. Polydectes demanded the head of Medusa, one of the Gorgans who turns people into stone. After a long time wander, Perseus had Mermes help to accomplish his mission. On his way return to Seriphos, he rescued the daughter of King Cepheus, Andromeda and wed her. Perseus returned home and founded Mycenae.
Heracles
Heracles was a divine hero, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the great grandson of Perseus. Zeus disguising himself as Alcmene's husband and impregnated her. Hera then often conspired Zeus' offspring as revenge for her husband's infidelities. She tried to stop Alcmene gave birth to Heracles. Heracles was sent to tend cattle on a mountain by his foster father after he killed his music tutor. Heracles was visited by tow nymphs and offered him a choice between an easy life or severe but glorious life. He chose the tough one and complete the task. Later, Heracles married King's daughter; however, Hera drove Heracles into madness and killed both Megara and their children our of jealous of Heracles . To pay for the crime, Heracles was asked to carry out 12 labors set by his arch-enemy, Eurystheus, who had become king in Heracles' place. Heracles accomplished these tasks. Heracles married four times. He was killed by the plot which set by Nessus who attempted to rape Heracles' wife. After death the gods transformed Heracles into an immortal.
Achilles
Achilles was the son of mortal Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, and the immortal sea nymph Thetis. He was a hero of the Trojan War. Achilles first refused the call to fight/lead his troops alongside the other Greek forces; however, as he received the death of Patroclues, who was consented to lead the battle, Achilles ended his refusal to fight and took th field killing many men in his rage. The god tried to drown Achilles to restrain him but stopped by Hera and Hephaestus. Finally, Achilles got his vengeance by killing Hector but latesr killed by Paris, Hector's coward brother. Achilles was undefeated except his heel.
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was a hero who transformed the Roman Republic into the Rome Empire. Caesar was born into a patrician family. He was nominated to be the high priest after the death of his father. He joined the army and later played more important role in his political journey. He faced with the choice between a triumph and the consulship; Caesar chose the consulship. Caesar was elected as a dictator; he was considered the best orator ad author of prose in Rome.
Alexander III
Alexander was an ancient Greek, the son of King Philip II, the king of Macedon; he conquered the Achaemenid Persian Empire (Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Gaza, Egypt, Bactria and Mesopotamia) and extended the boundaries of his own empire as far as the borders of Punjab by the time of his death. He encouraged marriage between his army and foreigners and practiced it himself. His conquests lead in centuries of Greek settlement and cultural influence over distant areas. Aristotle was Alexander's most important tutor who gave Alexander a thorough training in rhetoric and literature and stimulated his interest in science, medicine and philosophy. Alexander was welcomed as a liberator in Egypt and was pronounced the son of Zeus by Egyptian priests of the god Amun at the Oracle of the god; therefore, Alexander referred to the god Zeus-Ammon as his true father, and subsequent currency featuring his head with ram horns was proof of this widespread belief.
Gautama Buddha
Gautama Buddha was a spiritual teacher from ancient India and the founder of Buddhism. He was destined to be a prince but he felt that material wealth was not the ultimate goal of life. He then started his journey as ascetic to seek out a greater understanding of life and spiritual fulfilment. After he almost starving himself to death, he started to reconsider his path; he remembered a moment in childhood in which he had been watching his father start the season's plowing, and he had fallen into a naturally concentrated and focused state that was blissful and refreshing, the jhana. After 49 days meditating, at the age of 35, he attained Enlightenment. After his Enlightenment, Buddha was wondering whether he should teach the Dharma (Buddhism) to human beings. He was concerned that, human beings were overpowered by greed, hatred and delusion; they would not be able to see the true dharma. However, a divine spirit, Brahmā Sahampati, interceded and asked that he teach the dharma to the world, as "there will be those who will understand the Dharma". With his great compassion to all beings in the universe, the Buddha agreed to become a teacher.
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan is one of history's more charismatic and dynamic leaders. He conquered more territory than any other conqueror, and his established the largest contiguous empire i
n history. Even today his legacy continues in Asia, for without Genghis Khan there would not be a Mongolia. Genghis Khan was first called Temuchin. He endured many hardships, including the kidnapping of his wife Borte, but slowly recruited supporters and assumed a mantle of leadership among the Mongols. After rising to power in 1185, Temuchin experienced numerous setbacks and, eventually, victories. He led his armies against the Jin Dynasty that ruled northern China. War continued against the Jin until 1234, after his death. He was buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in his native Mongolia. His descendants went on to stretch the Mongol Empire across most of Eurasia, conquering all of modern-day China and Mongolia, as well as substantial portions of modern Russia, southern Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Napoleon
Napoleon was a general during the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Mediator of the Swiss Confederation and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine. He developed relatively few military innovations. He drew his best tactics from a variety of sources and scored several major victories with a modernized and reformed French army. His campaigns are studied at military academies all over the world and he is widely regarded as one of history's greatest commanders. Napoleon is also remembered for the establishment of the Napoleonic Code (Code Napoléon), which laid the bureaucratic foundations for the modern French state.
A brief history of Heroes
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,708937-1,00.html
According to Joseph Cambell's hero structure for "The Hero With A Thousand Faces", a hero must venture his journey, that is, Departure, Initiation, and Return as a hero with a gift to improve the world. The stories of Perseus, Heracles, Achilles, Julius Caesar follow his theory closely.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was ruled under the power of Pharaoh(becoming divine after death), who developed served to legitimize the state control and unity f the Egyptian people by means of a elaborate system of religious believes. Pharaoh also made land grants to his mortuary cults and local temples to ensure these institutions would have the necessary resources to worship the pharaoh after his death. The peak o Ancient Egypt's power was during the reign of Ramesses II of 19th dynasty. He created many more splendid temples, such as Abu Simbel on the Nubian border he recovered territories in the Levant conquest the battle of Kadesh. Sun worship was exceptionally prevalent in ancient Egyptian religion. The Sun's movement across the sky represents a struggle between the Pharaoh's soul and an avatar of Osiris. The "solarisation" of several gods (Hnum-Re, Min-Re, Amon-Re) reaches its peak in the period of the fifth dynasty.
Ancient Greek
Perseus
Perseus was the first mythic hero in Greek mythology. He was born in half immoral; he was son of Zeus who came to Perseus's mother in the form of shower of gold and impregnated her. Perseus and his mother then were sent away by his grand father, the King Acrisus of Argos who was warned by an oracle that he would be killed in time by his daughter's son. Persseus was raised by fisherman Dictys whose brother Polydectes fell in love with Perseus's mother and sent Perseus away in disgrace. Polydectes demanded the head of Medusa, one of the Gorgans who turns people into stone. After a long time wander, Perseus had Mermes help to accomplish his mission. On his way return to Seriphos, he rescued the daughter of King Cepheus, Andromeda and wed her. Perseus returned home and founded Mycenae.
Heracles
Heracles was a divine hero, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the great grandson of Perseus. Zeus disguising himself as Alcmene's husband and impregnated her. Hera then often conspired Zeus' offspring as revenge for her husband's infidelities. She tried to stop Alcmene gave birth to Heracles. Heracles was sent to tend cattle on a mountain by his foster father after he killed his music tutor. Heracles was visited by tow nymphs and offered him a choice between an easy life or severe but glorious life. He chose the tough one and complete the task. Later, Heracles married King's daughter; however, Hera drove Heracles into madness and killed both Megara and their children our of jealous of Heracles . To pay for the crime, Heracles was asked to carry out 12 labors set by his arch-enemy, Eurystheus, who had become king in Heracles' place. Heracles accomplished these tasks. Heracles married four times. He was killed by the plot which set by Nessus who attempted to rape Heracles' wife. After death the gods transformed Heracles into an immortal.
Achilles
Achilles was the son of mortal Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, and the immortal sea nymph Thetis. He was a hero of the Trojan War. Achilles first refused the call to fight/lead his troops alongside the other Greek forces; however, as he received the death of Patroclues, who was consented to lead the battle, Achilles ended his refusal to fight and took th field killing many men in his rage. The god tried to drown Achilles to restrain him but stopped by Hera and Hephaestus. Finally, Achilles got his vengeance by killing Hector but latesr killed by Paris, Hector's coward brother. Achilles was undefeated except his heel.
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was a hero who transformed the Roman Republic into the Rome Empire. Caesar was born into a patrician family. He was nominated to be the high priest after the death of his father. He joined the army and later played more important role in his political journey. He faced with the choice between a triumph and the consulship; Caesar chose the consulship. Caesar was elected as a dictator; he was considered the best orator ad author of prose in Rome.
Alexander III
Alexander was an ancient Greek, the son of King Philip II, the king of Macedon; he conquered the Achaemenid Persian Empire (Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Gaza, Egypt, Bactria and Mesopotamia) and extended the boundaries of his own empire as far as the borders of Punjab by the time of his death. He encouraged marriage between his army and foreigners and practiced it himself. His conquests lead in centuries of Greek settlement and cultural influence over distant areas. Aristotle was Alexander's most important tutor who gave Alexander a thorough training in rhetoric and literature and stimulated his interest in science, medicine and philosophy. Alexander was welcomed as a liberator in Egypt and was pronounced the son of Zeus by Egyptian priests of the god Amun at the Oracle of the god; therefore, Alexander referred to the god Zeus-Ammon as his true father, and subsequent currency featuring his head with ram horns was proof of this widespread belief.
Gautama Buddha
Gautama Buddha was a spiritual teacher from ancient India and the founder of Buddhism. He was destined to be a prince but he felt that material wealth was not the ultimate goal of life. He then started his journey as ascetic to seek out a greater understanding of life and spiritual fulfilment. After he almost starving himself to death, he started to reconsider his path; he remembered a moment in childhood in which he had been watching his father start the season's plowing, and he had fallen into a naturally concentrated and focused state that was blissful and refreshing, the jhana. After 49 days meditating, at the age of 35, he attained Enlightenment. After his Enlightenment, Buddha was wondering whether he should teach the Dharma (Buddhism) to human beings. He was concerned that, human beings were overpowered by greed, hatred and delusion; they would not be able to see the true dharma. However, a divine spirit, Brahmā Sahampati, interceded and asked that he teach the dharma to the world, as "there will be those who will understand the Dharma". With his great compassion to all beings in the universe, the Buddha agreed to become a teacher.
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan is one of history's more charismatic and dynamic leaders. He conquered more territory than any other conqueror, and his established the largest contiguous empire i
n history. Even today his legacy continues in Asia, for without Genghis Khan there would not be a Mongolia. Genghis Khan was first called Temuchin. He endured many hardships, including the kidnapping of his wife Borte, but slowly recruited supporters and assumed a mantle of leadership among the Mongols. After rising to power in 1185, Temuchin experienced numerous setbacks and, eventually, victories. He led his armies against the Jin Dynasty that ruled northern China. War continued against the Jin until 1234, after his death. He was buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in his native Mongolia. His descendants went on to stretch the Mongol Empire across most of Eurasia, conquering all of modern-day China and Mongolia, as well as substantial portions of modern Russia, southern Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.Napoleon
Napoleon was a general during the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Mediator of the Swiss Confederation and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine. He developed relatively few military innovations. He drew his best tactics from a variety of sources and scored several major victories with a modernized and reformed French army. His campaigns are studied at military academies all over the world and he is widely regarded as one of history's greatest commanders. Napoleon is also remembered for the establishment of the Napoleonic Code (Code Napoléon), which laid the bureaucratic foundations for the modern French state.
A brief history of Heroes
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