The Hero Cycle

UNUSUAL BIRTH Usually this is in some kind of virgin birth, divine parentage, or a prophecy. Aeneas Herakles Perseus

ESCAPE The young hero is taken away from society or to another city that is not home. Jason – raised by Chiron Penelope – saved from the sea by ducks Oedipus – sent to Corinth

COMING OF AGE Usually this is aided by a teacher, surrogate parent, or helper goddess. Arthur – Merlin Jason – Chiron/Hera Odysseus – Autolykos

JOURNEY/QUEST These begin with some kind of call to adventure. The Trojan War Jason is ordered by a king to get the golden fleece Medea is made to fall in love with Jason

JOURNEY/QUEST Often there is some kind of avoidance of adventure and consequence. Odysseus pretends madness – stops to save his infant son Oedipus goes to Thebes – unknowingly meets and kills his father along the way

JOURNEY/QUEST Monsters and supernatural aid appear in most stories as part of the quest. Divine aid throughout the Iliad Odysseus throughout the Odyssey Aeneas throughout the Aeneid

JOURNEY/QUEST There is some kind of decent to the underworld, a turning point, and an emergence from it representing rebirth. Odysseus goes to the underworld Jonah goes into a whale Achilles retreats within his tent until his closest friend dies

JOURNEY/QUEST Then comes the journey home, nostos. They usually win the kingdom, become holy, and/or have some kind of atonement. Odysseus – regains his kingdom and reconciles with his father Oedipus – solves the Sphinx’s riddle and becomes king of Thebes Theseus – succeeds his father as king of Athens after defeating the Minotaur

JOURNEY/QUEST At home the hero has difficulty returning to normal life. Odysseus – goes back to sea when Telemachus can hold his own and dies at in an accident Oedipus – his kingdom is plagued because of him, he discovers the truth about his family Theseus – the kingdom is unhappy with his rule

DEATH AND SACRIFICE There is a death or sacrifice, a scapegoat, a sparagmos. Prometheus – he is chained to a rock for his subversion Abraham – he is ordered to sacrifice his son Medea – kills her own sons for revenge, before becoming more than human

TRANSFIGURATION APOTHEOSIS The hero becomes a god, demigod, or some other form of immortal. Medea Jesus Herakles Romulus just about every Roman Emperor

TRANSFIGURATION APOTHEOSIS Often the hero becomes associated with a constellation, star, or planet. Perseus Orion

TRANSFIGURATION APOTHEOSIS Many heroes go on to be worshiped by a hero cult. Pelops – worshiped at Olympia Herakles – worshiped all over the Mediterranean Asclepius – worshiped as a healing deity just about every Roman Emperor