Theseus: The Qualities Of A Greek Hero

In the years before Christ the Greeks said there were multiple gods and they also had heroes who weren't quite gods but they were greater than humans. These heroes had to have certain qualities to be considered as one. These qualities are similar but different than those qualities of today's heroes. The greek's qualities consisted of cleverness, courage, strength, a noble birth, must have a companion or guide, they go on a journey or quest or have a goal, they meet dangers, they often face temptation and loneliness, and go to a dark place. They must also have a flaw, like acting without thinking or become angry easily. The Greek heroes often had multiple examples of some of these qualities. The qualities that Theseus shows are strength, courage,

One of these instances is with his first wife. He had gone to the Amazon ". . . and brought away one of them, whose name is given sometimes as Antiope, sometimes as Hippolyta" (page 129). This shows that he is so lonely as to steal someone from her home island. When he goes he steals her even though he was already a hero and as a hero he could have almost anyone he wanted. Stealing Hippolyta angered the Amazons and they attacked to get her back. After Hippolyta he became lonely again and decided to kidnap someone again, this time it was a child ". . . he would himself carry off Helen, the future heroine of Troy, then a child, and when she was grown marry her" (page 129). He had decided to steal her as a child instead of waiting till she was older and could win her over. She was considered the most beautiful person in the world. The loneliness was tempting him again. He no long had Hippolyta so he was lonely and saw a chance to have the most beautiful woman as his wife. When her brothers Castor and Pollux came to get her Theseus was lucky in that to he was on his way to the underworld for they were furious. The qualities that Theseus shows are cleverness, courage, strength, danger, and facing loneliness. There are many hero qualities for the Greek mythology. Heroes today share some of the same qualities but also differ to fit with the world as it is now such as being smart, strong, humble, ambitious, selfless and these are just