For heroes, timing is everything. They need to be quick and ready in the moments of need. To be even a second to late means potenially putting someone’s life in danger.
The very etmology of the word hero means to be seasonal, or timely. Hero comes from the Greek word hora. This is also the prefix for Hera, the Greek goddess of marriage, seasons and motherhood. The literal meaning of hora is the right time, or seasonality. Hera is the immortal representation of seasonality, while heroes are the mortal counterpart. Arguably the most famous hero, Hercules, is named after Hera. His name means the ‘Glory of Hera’.
The beauty and glory of heroes is earned by their ability to be timely and timeless. The myths of Hercules, Achilles and other heroes have lasted over 2500 years. These figures became timeless in their deaths. With death comes legacy and that is what we remember.
When a hero dies, he is telos, which means that he is coming full circle. You become blessed after coming full circle. The worshippers become blessed also by telos. Their telos is learning the mysteries of the cult and the hero. For them, they are experiencing a reenactment of the figure’s death. Again using Hercules as an example, a festival was celebrated every July or August in Greece called Heracleia, which was dedicated to the hero. For worshippers, this was a way to come full circle.
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