What is a Hero?

Hercules  

 Greek Mythology

 Heros were prominent in Greek mythology with some of the most prominent heroes including Hercules, Jason, Perseus, and many more. Many heroes in Greek mythology are born from one godly parent and one mortal parent, making the child a demigod - half-god, half-mortal. This allowed them separation from the everyday man while still being an everyday man. If they didn't have a godly parent, such as Jason, they would often have the Greek Gods' favor - even if for a short time. Typically, the heroes also would have loose morals which further emphasized the separation of heroes from everyday men. This also emphasized their godly parentage as typically, gods had few morals or ethics which was believed to be an example to mortals. An example of what could happen if morals or ethics weren't followed. 

Modern Times

The Hulk

Nowadays, heroes that are demigods aren't so common. Modern heroes come from a range of backgrounds, however, they will all typically have some sort of superpower that separates them from everyday men rather than godly parentage. One major difference between an ancient Greek hero and a modern hero is that modern heroes are supposed to set a good example. While in ancient Greece, a hero was cheating on their lover or killing their family in a fit of rage, a modern hero is someone we're supposed to aspire to be. They help those in need and put others first while maintaining a positive never-give-up attitude. What makes a hero today isn't their godly parentage and separation from everyday man, instead, it's the message that in the end, anyone can be a hero. This comes from the fact that most modern heroes aren't born with their superpowers like ancient Greek heroes. While Hercules is born with super-strength, The Hulk obtains his super-strength and learns to use it for the greater good.