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A Hero (Greek in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demi-god, the offpsring of a mortal and a deity. Later, hero (male) and heroine (female) came to refer to characters that, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self-sacrifice, that is, heroism, for some greater good, originally of martial courage or excellence but extended to more general moral excellence.

Stories of heroism may serve as moral examples, impressing a culture's ethical code, especially for the young. In classical antiquity, hero cults, veneration of deified heroes such as Heracles, Perseus, or Achilles, played an important role in Ancient Greek religion. Later emperors employed hero worship for their own apotheosis, that is, cult of personality.

See also

• Anti-hero
• Heroic nudity
• Fantasy tropes and conventions