“’It cannot be translated by a direct one-to-one equivalent into the idiom of modern American English, and even though the context of a particular use of the word may refine its meaning in that context, the word arete still carries with it a notion of the ephemeral excellence and of transient triumph that make its translation an exceedingly risky business.”

-Stephan G. Miller, Arete

The concept of Arete, or the virtues of a warrior is key to understanding the Hellenic hero as are the terms Ariste: “best” and Aristeia: "fears-of-a-hero", which together illuminate the figure of the hero as the best humanity has to thrust up against the uncaring cosmos, who is in no way a superman, but rather a victim of the cruel gods who withhold their blessings from all that fail and also from many who achieve victory on the petty human scale. The ancients had a sense of the supernatural that would have jived well with that of pulp horror author H.P. Lovecraft.

Below is a list of actual historic figures in the heroic mold. Most of these are only known because they were athletes. We must abandon the modern understanding of the term athlete as a specialized professional. One does not refer to Lygdamas the pankratist, but to Lygdamas who was victorious in the pankration.

We might laugh at Dennis Rodman befriending the Korean tyrant, of Ali meeting with the Ugandan dictator. But this is what the ancient athlete did, for he was acknowledged before the gods and could possibly be a messenger to them when he died. The ancient athlete was regarded as a possible intercessor, a middleclass dice throw Pharaoh. In a world where the dead were all thought to descend into gloom, except a blessed few who might reach a shinning place, those hedging their metaphysical bets looked to the winner of a sacred agon as obviously and manifestly favored by Fortune, who was no less a cruel bitch than the rest of the females in heaven, and recognized by Zeus [Thunder-chief].

Travelling athletes do provide a potential source for likely protagonists. In this period, during the years 632-16 B. C., there was a heightened interest in entering boys and youths into the sacred agon of Zeus at Olympia. The Olympic truce would not protect a travelling athlete from non-Greek pirates or bandits. These men traveled armed, with an armed retinue of warriors.

All dates given are B.C. and will be regarded as the person’s prime age of 24, unless indicated otherwise. The prominence of Olympic athletes from a given polis is a good indication of that community’s political influence.

672: Daippos, [Earth-horse] of Kroton in Italy, wins the boxing at Olympia, the expense of this trip marks him as the son of a leading citizen and destined for a future position of responsibility. Olympic victors were often chosen to lead expeditions, or to serve as emissaries.

650 B.C. Spartan warriors slaughter the Messenians, sending refugees fleeing across Hellas, some eventually to settle in Rhodes.

648: Lygdamas [Twisting-subduer] of Syracuse wins the first pankration [all-power-thing] at Olympia. He is a giant with feet as long as a normal man’s arm measured from elbow to fingertip.

636: Phrynon [Torch] of Athens wins the pankration.

632: Orikadamos [Bringing-order-to-subduing] of Sicily wrote a wrestling manual, so was probably about 40 at this date.

624: Hipposthenes [Horse-strong] of Sparta reigns as Olympic wrestling champion [and therefore serves as bodyguard to the Spartan King] until 608.

624: Draco, the notorious tyrant of Athens, passes his infamous ‘draconian’ laws.

622: Alcaeus, is the leading poet of Lesbos, and later in life an admirer of Sappho, and certainly acquainted with Pittakus and Aesop.

620: Eutelidas, wrestler and track and field athlete of Sparta as a boy, is now probably a Spartan messenger/herald, who would speak directly to one or both of the Spartan kings.

616: Phylytus of Sybaris in Italy, wins the boys’ boxing crown at Olympia at about age 16.

608: At about 50, Phrynon, serves as the leader of an Athenian invasion of Lesbos, and is killed in single combat by the Tyrant of Mitylene, Pittakus, who uses a net to ensnare him.

608: Hetomakles [Prepared-for-honor] of Sparta, son of Hipposthenes, becomes wrestling champion for the rest of the period.

608: Solon of Athens wins the boxing crown at Olympia.

596: Aesop was a slave to a leading citizen of Mitylene, the community ruled by cutthroat Pittakus, and from where Sappho had fled into Sicilian exile. Aristotle placed his birth at 620, but who knows. He was supposedly executed by his masters in 564. Aesop is credited with telling many witty fables involving talking animals and objects as a way of making subversive social commentary. I really like him as a protagonist or supporting character, particularly if you are going to use Sappho, Phryon or Pittakus.

592: Anakharsis, a Black Sea Skythian, journeys to Athens as a guest of Solon, future Athenian statesman.

589: An inscription is left in Egypt by a company of anonymous and ill-fated Greek mercenaries.