Building a mythic hero

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by Asta Kask

This was an interesting page.

The mythical pattern of a hero

1. Hero's mother is a royal virgin;
2. His father is a king, and
3. Often a near relative of his mother, but
4. The circumstances of his conception are unusual, and
5. He is also reputed to be the son of a god.
6. At birth an attempt is made, usually by his father or his maternal grand father to kill him, but
7. he is spirited away, and
8. Reared by foster -parents in a far country.
9. We are told nothing of his childhood, but
10. On reaching manhood he returns or goes to his future Kingdom.
11. After a victory over the king and/or a giant, dragon, or wild beast,
12. He marries a princess, often the daughter of his predecessor and
13. And becomes king.
14. For a time he reigns uneventfully and
15. Prescribes laws, but
16. Later he loses favor with the gods and/or his subjects, and
17. Is driven from the throne and city, after which
18. He meets with a mysterious death,
19. Often at the top of a hill,
20. His children, if any do not succeed him.
21. His body is not buried, but nevertheless
22. He has one or more holy sepulchres.

1. Quite rare. More common for heroes to be divine bastards. I can't remember any virgin births other then Jesus and Darth Vader. I suspect that Ancients found celestial kinkiness more arousing.

2. Fairly normal. Besides rule of cool, it is a convenient way to explain why the Hero is interested in high politics.

3. As most people are near relations to their mother, I assume you mean the parents were practicing endogamy. Fairly common among nobility and among scattered populations.

4. And often quite fearsome. Ghengis Khan was grasping a blood clot and Ivan the Terrible had an eclipse or a thunderstorm I forget which. Paul Atreides' mother rebelled against the Bene Geserit.

5. More common then virgin births.

6. Quite common

7. Also common. Supposedly happened to Cyrus the Great.

8. Ditto

9. Common though there are exceptions. Turin Turumbar had a tender relation with his father's retainer.

10. Quite common

11. Note Aragorn, Paul Atreides, etc.

12. And she is always very beautiful. Justifiable when you think about it as commoner women have to work and haven't access to cosmetics.

13. Of course

14. Not necessarily. Being a great conqueror is always fun.

15. Varies. Often these are military laws to improve the new monarchs army. "United the tribes" is also popular and is naturally associated with prescribing laws. All perfectly natural.

16. A favorite of the Greeks. Jews liked it too though sometimes he repented and won favor back. Sometimes favor of the gods is lost by the heroes descendants. Also the waning phase of the Cycle of Empires is a popular alternative and among highly religious cultures is pretty much the same thing.

17. Naturally. A lot of thrones depended on Klingon Promotion.

18. Of course. And the body is never found.

19. Huh?

20. Unless it is the founding myth of a dynasty.

21. Well, yes

22. You forgot about being enchanted so he can return and rescue his people.