Your Favorite Mythical Hero?

[Elani Temperance]

Seeing as we have a thread for favorite Goddesses and Gods, I thought it only logical to extend the line of questioning to mythological heroes. There are a great many humans or Demigods in mythology that, although often awarded handsomely (sometimes with immortality) for their efforts in assisting the Gods, never rose to the status of Gods themselves.

My favorite mythological hero is Icarus; Daedalus' son who escaped the labyrinth on the island of Crete with wings made of feathers and wax. He was warned not to fly too high because the sun would melt the wax or too low because wet feathers wouldn't carry him. Yet Icarus, too caught up with the marvel of flying, did fly too high or too low and drowned.

Icarus reminds me that, although great risk comes with a leap of faith, it might just be worth it sometimes.

"...but most of all I love Icarus, who knew the wax would melt but still flew towards the sun."
-- 'Ik hou van Icarus' - Tjitske Jansen (translated from Dutch)

So who is your favorite mythological hero?

[Micheál]

So who is your favorite mythological hero?

Living in Ulster, I'd have to go with the Hound himself, Cú Chulainn.

[RandallS]

So who is your favorite mythological hero?

I'd like to say its Jason, but he turns into somewhat of a jerk after the quest for the golden fleece. So I'll say Odysseus.

[Melamphoros]

So who is your favorite mythological hero?

 
I would have to say Perseus (the slayer of Medusa).  I always loved that particular story and he seems less dickish than many other heroes.

[Celtag]

I would have to say Perseus (the slayer of Medusa).  I always loved that particular story and he seems less dickish than many other heroes.

I would probably go with Pryderi. From the Mabinogi.

[SatAset]

So who is your favorite mythological hero?

I loved Medea.  I remember liking Perseus, but I think that was a movie I saw.

[Finn]

I'd like to say its Jason, but he turns into somewhat of a jerk after the quest for the golden fleece. So I'll say Odysseus.

 
Second Odysseus.

But my favorite that I can think of right away might be Fionn mac Cumhail! (Big surprise?)

[Agonistes]

Second Odysseus.

But my favorite that I can think of right away might be Fionn mac Cumhail! (Big surprise?)

 
Odysseus by far. But, a close second is Aeneas.

[Annie Roonie]

So who is your favorite mythological hero?

I tend to be enamored of the one I mos recently read and contemplated. I just read a brief bit about Tiresias and he strikes me as humorous and poignant at the same time.

I don't know if he wold classify as a typical hero though.

[Jabberwocky]

So who is your favorite mythological hero?

Technically, this is folklore as opposed to mythology, but Robin Hood. More specifically, a mid 17th century interpretation of Robin.  I work with Robin and the Loxley lads in my own practise and he's heavily tied together with the concept of the "Norman Yoke".  Which is a very mythical reading of history; the pre-Norman idyllic Anglo-Saxon England it rests on never existed.  But it's still a very powerful symbol.  It was highly influential on the radical fringes among the Parliamentarians in the English Revolution.

If I can stretch the concept even more to include literary heroes, Don Quixote.   To me, his message is that you should tilt at your giants, even if everyone else thinks they're windmills.

[SunflowerP]

Technically, this is folklore as opposed to mythology, but Robin Hood. More specifically, a mid 17th century interpretation of Robin.  I work with Robin and the Loxley lads in my own practise and he's heavily tied together with the concept of the "Norman Yoke".  Which is a very mythical reading of history; the pre-Norman idyllic Anglo-Saxon England it rests on never existed.  But it's still a very powerful symbol.  It was highly influential on the radical fringes among the Parliamentarians in the English Revolution.

 
Have you read Parke Godwin's RH novelization, Sherwood?  (I gather there are sequelae as well, but I haven't read them.)  I'm thinking you'd like it quite a lot.

Sunflower

[Jabberwocky]

Have you read Parke Godwin's RH novelization, Sherwood?  (I gather there are sequelae as well, but I haven't read them.)  I'm thinking you'd like it quite a lot.

Sunflower

I haven't.  Thanks, I'll check it out!

[Aubrey_Rose]

Seeing as we have a thread for favorite Goddesses and Gods, I thought it only logical to extend the line of questioning to mythological heroes. There are a great many humans or Demigods in mythology that, although often awarded handsomely (sometimes with immortality) for their efforts in assisting the Gods, never rose to the status of Gods themselves.

My favorite mythological hero is Icarus; Daedalus' son who escaped the labyrinth on the island of Crete with wings made of feathers and wax. He was warned not to fly too high because the sun would melt the wax or too low because wet feathers wouldn't carry him. Yet Icarus, too caught up with the marvel of flying, did fly too high or too low and drowned.

Icarus reminds me that, although great risk comes with a leap of faith, it might just be worth it sometimes.

"...but most of all I love Icarus, who knew the wax would melt but still flew towards the sun."
-- 'Ik hou van Icarus' - Tjitske Jansen (translated from Dutch)

So who is your favorite mythological hero?

 
Hercules

Especially his Disney movie...
I know, its tragic that I was a 90's child.

Though the traditional tale is awesome too.

[Owl]

Hercules

Especially his Disney movie...
I know, its tragic that I was a 90's child.

Though the traditional tale is awesome too.

 
Does Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty count?  I love the calling on "all the powers of hell" bit, and she has the best minions! She's my hero, especially when I'm pissed off.

[Melamphoros]

Does Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty count?  I love the calling on "all the powers of hell" bit, and she has the best minions! She's my hero, especially when I'm pissed off.

 
To this day, I maintain that Maleficent is the best Disney villain (if not the best character) of all time.  I may even shell out $10 to see the Angelina Jolie movie.