Comparison of Ancient Greek and Modern Heroes

Ancient Greek definition of a hero was often based on their divine ancestry that accorded them strength and courage. These heroes were celebrated for their bold exploits that allowed them to find favor in the eyes of the gods. They were a race between ordinary human beings and the gods with instances of interaction with the gods. Usually, these heroes were descendants of an immortal god and as such possessed superhuman abilities. They were also individuals of outstanding physical attributes which made them stand-out and be able to perform those heroic deeds. Beyond these superhuman abilities, Greek mythology heroes were outstanding individuals who showed courage at the face of adversity or even were successful during war, even when there was no connection or relation to a god. Heracles, Achilles, and Odysseus were an excellent example of Greek heroes that possessed individual characteristics that accorded them the heroic status. 

Contrary to Greek heroes, modern-day heroes are nothing in stature, physical abilities or even exploits. Instead, modern-day heroes embody a humanistic element that involves changing the lives of other people. A perfect example of a modern-day hero is Mother Teresa or even sixteen-year-old Amina Filali who through their acts of sacrifice captured the world’s attention and changed the course of history. There are no physical attributes that resonated with their greats acts. Unlike Greek heroes, modern-day heroes have no royal ancestry nor do they come from prestigious or advantaged background. A perfect example of such a hero is former United States president Barack Obama, who against all odds, managed to become the world’s most powerful person. Modern-day heroes are also not about great acts rather individual acts that show nobility and bravery. A perfect example is that of the late South African president Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi who provided the ideal examples to human coexistence when they could have easily acted otherwise.