A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Mythology's Heroes

Meet the great heroes of Greek and Roman mythology, whose stories are just as gripping as those of the gods.

Heracles (Hercules)

Origin: Greek mythology (Roman name: Hercules). A demigod hero born to Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene, hated by Hera and made to carry out the famous Twelve Labors. He is well known for the "Twelve Labors of Heracles," which included slaying the Nemean lion, defeating the Hydra, and cleaning the Augean stables, and he is portrayed as the strongest hero in all of Greek and Roman mythology. He is a figure in whom divine lineage and human suffering — a narrative of madness and punishment — are portrayed together.

Perseus

Origin: Greek mythology. A hero born to Zeus and Danaë, famous for beheading Medusa, a monster whose gaze alone could turn a person to stone. Using a mirror-like reflective shield, he beheaded Medusa without ever looking directly at her, and afterward rescued Princess Andromeda, who had been in danger of being sacrificed to a sea monster, and took her as his wife. Medusa's severed head was later used as a weapon that could turn enemies to stone.

Theseus

Origin: Greek mythology. A legendary king of Athens, a hero who slew the Minotaur, a monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull, trapped within a labyrinth. He is famous for the story of entering the labyrinth of Crete to slay the Minotaur, then safely escaping using a ball of thread given to him by Princess Ariadne — known as "Ariadne's thread." This thread is still used today as a metaphor for a clue that helps solve a complex problem.

Jason

Origin: Greek mythology. A hero who set out on an adventure leading the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. Tasked with retrieving the Golden Fleece from the distant kingdom of Colchis as a condition for reclaiming his throne, he set out on an expedition aboard the ship Argo along with numerous other heroes. He completed the task with the help of the sorceress Medea, but the relationship between the two later ended in tragedy.

Odysseus (Ulysses)

Origin: Greek mythology (Roman name: Ulysses). A hero of cunning strategy who led the Greeks to victory in the Trojan War, and who endured a grueling ten-year journey home after the war. He is famous for the strategy of the "Trojan Horse," in which soldiers were hidden inside a giant wooden horse to bring down Troy, and on his journey home to Ithaca after the war, he faced all manner of trials — the one-eyed giant Cyclops, the sorceress Circe, and the temptation of the Sirens, among others. The epic poem depicting this journey is Homer's Odyssey.

Achilles

Origin: Greek mythology. Considered the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, a hero who was killed by the one weakness he had — his heel. His mother, Thetis, dipped him in the River Styx to make him immortal, but the heel by which she held him never touched the water, leaving it as his sole weakness — and he is said to have ultimately died after being struck by an arrow there. This is the origin of the term "Achilles' heel," used today both as the name of a body part and as an expression meaning a "fatal weakness."

How do the heroes of myth differ from the gods?

Most heroes of Greek and Roman mythology are either demigods born between a god and a mortal, or mortals who receive both help and trials from the gods. Unlike the gods, who are fully immortal beings, the heroes carry the human limitation of eventually facing death, which is part of why their courage and hardships are portrayed so dramatically. If you're curious about the stories of gods like Zeus and Hera, take a look at our dictionary of world mythology as well.

Why are hero stories still so often referenced today?

Expressions originating from Greek and Roman mythology, like "Achilles' heel" and "Pandora's box," are still constantly quoted today in everyday language, literature, and film. Because the adventures of these heroes deal with universal themes like human courage, wisdom, desire, and limitation, they continue to be reinterpreted across the ages.

Do the same heroes sometimes have different names?

Yes. As the Romans adopted Greek mythology, they often renamed the gods and heroes in Roman form. For example, the Greek Heracles became Hercules in Rome, and Odysseus became Ulysses. The names differ, but the basic outline of the story is generally passed down the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Heracles hated by Hera?

Because Heracles was a son born to Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene. As a child born from her husband Zeus's infidelity, Hera hated him for his entire life and subjected him to numerous trials — this is the background behind Heracles being made to carry out the Twelve Labors.

How is the phrase "Achilles' heel" related to the actual body part of that name?

The anatomical term "Achilles tendon," referring to the tendon above the heel, takes its name from the very spot where Achilles is said to have been struck by an arrow and killed — his one weakness. For this reason, the term is widely used today not only for the body part but also, figuratively, to mean a "fatal weakness."