Hero Cult In Ancient Greece (the 8～(th) Century B.C-the 4～(th) Century B.C)

The phase (the 8^th century B.C-the 4^th century B.C) is an important stage that ancient Greek polis rose and developed. In this stage, the politic, culture and economy got flourishing achievements. In ancient Greece, hero cult and the polis linked closely. As a part of the public cults, hero cult is the product made by both politic and religion in polis, in the meanwhile, it linked both of them. The age of polis can be divided into two parts: the Archaic period and the Classical period. By exploring the change and development of hero cult, we can know more about the religion, society and culture in ancient Greece. This paper tries to inspect the hero cult of this phase in order to get a whole cognition.The first chapter is about hero's definition and peculiarity. It is necessary for us to define the word 'hero' before beginning our discussion. Greek myths and traditions can be a important way for us to understand the nature of heroes. Moreover, myths are closely related to religion and have use of explanation, so studying myths is a effective way to find the essence of heroes. To heroes, death and glory are of remarkable significance. Death represents the crucial transition: both the end and the beginning of life; and glory represents the honor from people. Both them pushed hero cult to another kind of immorality. So, the figure of heroes in ancient Greek religion is inclined to be a "demi-god".The second chapter is about the background and development of hero cult. There are three parts of the background: the rise of the polis, the effect of some cults and Homer epic. The rise of the polis constructed an outer conditions in which the transition from the old to the new was proceeding, and some original cults provided the origin of idea and a frame for hero cult, and Homer epics promoted the spread of hero cult. The rituals and places of honoring heroes have difference by individual, and the difference can get reason from myths about heroes. In the Archaic period, most of the people worshipped were the one who established the polis or ancestors. Until the 5^th century, there began a trend of heroization, and some War Dead and poets were heroized. The trend of heroization provided patterns for apotheosization of rulers in latter times. The third chapter is about the significance of hero cult. The discussion is consisted of political aspect and religious aspect. Heroes represented the scarce past. Ancient Greeks established contact with the past and found the origin by means of hero cult. In a time, the scarce past can be used as resources for getting power. The religious figures of heroes were more likely to demi-gods, and they were as importance as deities in public life. They solved the problems and crises in people's lives with deities. But hero cult presented another idea of immorality, and heroization displayed that Greeks attached importance to human beings.It is only when hero appeared as a religious figure that he had many functions and influence on people's lives. To some extent, the establishment of hero cult also started from the requirement of the polis and people.