Heroes - Imperishable Fame. It always surrounds them - drives some, and some fewer still…achieve it.
From the Proto Indo-European: ḱléwos ṇdhchitóm
To the Greek: κλέος ἄφθιτον, kléos áphthiton
Sanskrit: अक्षितम् श्रवस् ákṣitam śrávas
It's the ongoing posthumous remembrance of your deeds. Mostly, your famous HEARD OF deeds.
Note, we didn't say GOOD deeds here, class.
All of these cultures also have words for shame and that feeling is pretty important in stories too. It's not removed from heroism.
Sometimes you gotta fuck up, or you're expected to, and YOU BETTER LEARN FROM THEM or you're going to succumb to…well, yourself.
This concept was living and evolved in the stories as well over time to become what people hear about you…
That's your imperishable fame - uh oh, rumor mills abound.
Now, in the Greek tradition, we have what's known as kleos or glory - first your father's glory, rep handed down, and what you might/may/will/do do with it.
It's argued that kleos comes from kluein, or to hear. But kleos itself also applies to the medium of the fame/glory - so…the poems or songs and well, if you take a look at the structure and style of all the old epics…they're fucking epic poems, songs, ballads.
Most of our heroes are literally rock song characters…
This is also central to my series Tales of Tremaine as you see this link and meta reply to stories and the tradition of how they're co-opted, morphed, retold, but for the reason of keeping some character alive (cultural resonance, cultural identity, …and sadly but true, the fixation of/on glory) but every culture has that.
And, every culture has been kinda picking at most of the same/similar af bones, for a reason, cuz they're our collective bones.
Just scattered, broken up, recombined, over and over, like we're the same species literally scattered to the wind clutching pieces of the core ideas, trading them back and forth, or forcing them on people, or co opting and retelling and erasing and rewriting and over and over
People are still seeking glory, and sometimes, they create myths about themselves - we've seen this with conquerors, leaders, and despots/tyrants.
Their actual stories have cruelties in them, make light or gloss over their mistakes, these are the cruel little man's attempts at glory.
"Greats" who murdered family members and did terrible things but…we gloss over that for the battles they won only.
Whereas in the original story tradition, these "heroes" had all their ugly faults laid bare as well…and often they were judged for those by the gods too.
Not even heroes can escape judgement and fate.
But the best…try to learn and rise from that.
But there's a difference from the heroes in stories to the men in reality who try to paint their own selves as heroes and create myths about themselves
Though, sadly, it always works in them coming to power, because everyone forgets this:
we crave stories, we need them, and the same for myths.
It's been true always - that's why we have a parasocial culture with social media and stars.
Proximity to "perceived greatness" to modern heroes.
But you forget one thing in that - you're the real heroes. Your myth is just your life - the one you're making.
That's the most important story out of all the ones told and being told now.
You've had ups and downs.
Just be cognizant of that, though, you're a hero too. Be your own hero for you.
The one you need. And remember what heroes need to remember - learn from your mistakes/lessons/vanities.
Now that you know a teensy bit more of myths and stories remember to take care of yours and properly apply whatever you need to make yours the best it can be, cuz you deserve that good story for you. <3
