Greek hero cult

Devotion to a hero in ancient Greek religion

Greek hero cult

Hero cults were one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion. In Homeric Greek, "hero" (ἥρως, hḗrōs) refers to the mortal offspring of a human and a god. In Greek religion, a hero held a specific designation as a legendary deceased mortal whose memory is honored with ritual worship at a heroön or shrine—typically centered at the hero's burial site—and who, while extraordinarily gifted in his lifetime, was not immortal or as all-powerful as a deity.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA. More on occurri.