hero: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Videos

Learn about the evolution of the definition of a hero from ancient Greeks to modern times

See All Videos →

Topics

Superhero culture hero bogatyr list of films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe hero worship honnête homme apotheosis antihero character protagonist biform Zombie femme fatale Diagnosing 9 of Charles Dickens’s Most Famous Characters Was Santa Claus a Real Person?Today in History—February 7: The Most Unlikely Leading Man Today in History—August 9: Betty’s First Boop Who Is Hanukkah Harry?Walt Disney’s First Cartoon Critter Was Not Mickey Mouse Today in History—May 15: Mickey and Minnie Make Their Debut in Plane Crazy

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Key People

default image

Gaius Mucius Scaevola

Roman hero

Joseph Campbell.

Joseph Campbell

American author and editor