Mythologis
Mythological Heroes: The Great Heroes of World Mythology

Mythology Themes

Mythological Heroes: The Great Heroes of World Mythology

Heracles, Gilgamesh, Cu Chulainn and the Path of the Hero

The complete guide to the great heroes of myth: Heracles and Perseus of Greece, Gilgamesh of Mesopotamia, Cu Chulainn of Ireland, Beowulf of the North, and the shared pattern of the hero's journey.

190 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

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Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • Greek, Mesopotamian, Irish and Norse heroes
  • Designed for print quality
See all chapters  +
  1. 01Before the Superhero
  2. 02What Makes a Hero?
  3. 03Gilgamesh: The Oldest Hero
  4. 04Heracles and the Twelve Labours
  5. 05Perseus and the Gorgon
  6. 06Theseus and the Labyrinth
  7. 07Jason and the Argonauts
  8. 08Cu Chulainn, the Warped Warrior of Ireland
  9. 09Beowulf and the Dragon
  10. 10The Hero's Journey
  11. 11The Glory and the Doom

About this book

About this Mythology Themes mythology guide

Born under strange signs, they fight monsters, descend to the dead and return, and meet a doom that is rarely happy. This is the complete guide to the great heroes of world mythology.

Long before the superhero there was the hero, and the great heroes of myth still set the pattern. They are born under strange signs, often part divine; they perform impossible labours, descend into the land of the dead and return, kill the monster, win or lose the great prize, and meet an end that is rarely happy. From Mesopotamia to Greece to Ireland, the hero is humanity at its most daring and its most doomed, reaching for the divine and paying the price.

This is the complete guide to the heroes of world myth. Gilgamesh, the oldest hero in literature, who seeks and loses the secret of eternal life; Heracles and his twelve labours; Perseus, Theseus and Jason of the Greek tradition; Cu Chulainn, the warped warrior of Ireland; Beowulf, who kills the monster and dies fighting the dragon; and the famous shape that so many of these stories seem to share.

The book gathers the great heroes and asks what makes a hero, drawing on Gilgamesh, Homer, Apollodorus, the Irish epics and Beowulf, and every chapter cites where it comes from.

Delivered as a print-quality PDF within 24 hours of purchase.

What you will discover inside

  • Gilgamesh, the oldest hero in literature, who hunts for eternal life
  • Heracles and the famous twelve labours
  • Perseus, Theseus and Jason of the Greek tradition
  • Cu Chulainn, the warped warrior of the Irish epics
  • Beowulf, who kills the monster and dies fighting the dragon
  • The shape of the hero's journey that so many of these stories share

Mythology Themes mythology book at a glance

TraditionMythology Themes mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length190 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Questions about the Mythology Themes mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

Does it explain the hero's journey?

Yes. One chapter is devoted to the famous monomyth, the hero's journey described by Joseph Campbell, but the book tests it against the real myths rather than forcing every hero into the same mould.

Is this book based on primary sources?

Yes. It draws on the Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer, Hesiod, Apollodorus, the Irish Ulster Cycle and Beowulf, with references to the standard translations.

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 190 pages depending on the final layout.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

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