Tales of the Greek Heroes

Every civilization has ancient stories and tales that are part history and part myth. They pass on what ancient peoples believed to be essential for future generations.

Many of the West’s ancient stories come from Greece and Rome. The Greco-Roman stories include tales of gods and heroes, such as Prometheus’ gift of fire to humanity, Theseus and the Minotaur, and Hercules’ labors and battles against the giants. The stories help us understand what the ancient Greeks and Romans valued and wanted to be remembered for. They also help us know what has influenced the West.

The Greeks highly valued physical strength, courage in war, and hospitality. They believed that truthfulness, work, marriage, family, and one’s city are sacred. Finally, they believed in a supernatural world, sin, and the need for atonement.

Many lessons can be learned from the ancient tales: curiosity does not always lead to a good end (Pandora’s box); a happy marriage requires more than physical attraction and emotional attachment (Jason and Medea); individual people have dignity and should be treated with respect (Procrustes’ bed); feelings and desires can cause us to do bad things that can lead to destruction (Siren’s call); and the road to greatness requires enormous self-sacrifice (Hercules’ labors).

Roger Lancelyn Green’s Tales of the Greek Heroes entertainingly retells the ancient stories. He is an excellent writer and does a great job weaving the tales into a unified narrative.

These stories provide background for two of the most famous Greek tales, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.