ἥρωσ, gen. ἥρωοσ and ἥρω̆οσ, dat. ἥρω̆ι and ἥρῳ, acc. ἥρω(α): hero, warrior; a title of honor for the free and brave; alone as subst., Il. 1.4, Il. 10.179; in address, Il. 20.104, Il. 10.416; w. Δαναοί, Ἀχαιοί, likewise with single names, Il. 4.200, Od. 2.15, Il. 21.163; joined w. θεράποντες Ἄρηος, Il. 2.110; γέρων, Od. 7.155. Never =demigod.
ἥρωσ, ὁ (also ἡ in signf. 111), gen. ἥρωος (ἥρωσ codd. in Od.6.303, fort. leg. ἥρω̆οσ), IG22.1641.6 (iv B.C.), etc.; also ἥρωD.19.249, IG2.1191 (iii B.C.), Paus.10.4.10: dat. ἥρωϊ, mostly in form ἥρῳIl.7.453, Od.8.483, Pl.Com.174.18, Orac. ap. D.43.66: acc. ἥρωαPl.Lg.738d, IG3.810 (ἥρω̆αEpigr.Gr.774 (Priene)); usu. in form ἥρωIG2.1058.25(iv B.C.), Pl.R.391d, A.R.2.766, etc., also ἥρωνHdt.1.167:— Plur., nom. ἥρωες (ω̆Pi.P.4.58), rarely contr. ἥρωσ, as in Ar.Fr.304: dat. ἥρωσινA.Fr.55, Ar.Av.1485; ἡρώνεσσιSophr.154: acc. ἥρωας (ω̆Pi.P.1.53), rarely ἥρωσ, as in A.Ag.516, Luc.Dem.Enc.4:—
hero
, ἥρωες Δαναοί, Ἀχαιοί, Il.2.110,19.34; στίχας ἀνδρῶν ἡρώωνOd.1.101; ἡρώων ἀγοράσ, of the Phaeacians, 7.44; ἥρῳ Δημοδόκῳ 8.483; οἱ ἡγεμόνες τῶν ἀρχαίων μόνοι ἦσαν ἥρωες, οἱ δὲ λαοὶ ἄνθρωποιArist.Pr. 932b18, but cf. Il. cc. 2.
the Fourth Age of men
, between δαίμονεσ and ἄνθρωποι, Hes.Op.172, cf. Pl.Cra.398c. 3.
heroes, as objects of worship
, ἥ. ἀντίθεοιPi.P.1.53,4.58; ἥ. θεόσ, of Heracles, Id.N.3.22; but [Ἡρακλέϊ] τῷ μὲν ὡς Ὀλυμπίῳ θύουσι, τῷ δὲ ἑτέρῳ ὡς ἥρωι ἐναγίζουσιHdt.2.44; Σίσυφος ἥ. Thgn.711; twice in A., Ag.516, Fr.55; once in E., Fr.446(lyr.); οὔτε θεοὺς οὔθ' ἥρωας αἰσχυνθεῖσαAntipho 1.27; esp. of
local deities
, founders of cities, patrons of tribes, etc., Hdt.1.168, Th.4.87, Pl.Lg.l.c., Arist.Pol.1332b18, etc.; at Athens, ἥ. ἐπώνυμοι
heroes
after whom the φυλαί were named, Paus.1.5.1,2, cf. Hdt.5.66; of historical persons to whom divine honours were paid, as Brasidas at Amphipolis, Th.5.11, cf. Hdt.5.114,7.117: hence,= Lat.