We have read about many legendary heroes in history for their bravery act and stories. There are individuals in the past as well as in the current world who are known for their courage and acts of bravery. Plenty of men have done heroic acts in the past that they can never be forgotten and are remembered in the books of history.
So, here is a list of 10 such legendary heroes in history, old stories, poems, mythology books that the world has ever known:
1. Gilgamesh:
Gilgamesh is probably one of the first recorded heroes in history. His acts were so legendary that “The Epic of Gilgamesh” is based on his exploits and is still famous. He was the king of Uruk and was so powerful that the gods had to create a hero to kill him, but instead, he befriended him. Later he went on for his quest for immortality.
2. El Cid:
El Cid or El Cid Campeador was a Spanish nobleman with the real name Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar. He was born in 1040 and died in 1099. He is seen as a national hero in Spain as he was a brave and accomplished warrior who fought the battle to take the control of Spain from Muslims.
3. Beowulf:
Beowulf was a hero in a true sense as he died for his people. His story is set in Scandinavia which was attacked by a monster. The king asked for help from Beowulf and he killed the monster with his bare hands. Later, his homeland was again threatened by a dragon. He succeeded in killing the dragon but in the fight, was wounded and later died.
4. Achilles:
The great Achilles of Myrmidon is one of the greatest heroes that history has recorded. He was an agile and brutal warrior who participated in the Trojan war who could take down enemies twice his size. He was also known for his uncontrollable rage.
Also Read: Top 11 People Who Changed The world
5. St George:
St George was a Roman soldier who is known for his refusal to take part in the Empire’s persecution of Christians. He was killed for his treachery and so, he became a Christian martyr. He was also made the patron Saint of England. He is also a part of a legend where he kills a man-eating dragon and the city’s inhabitants were so thankful to him that they converted from Paganism to George’s Christianity.
6. Karna:
Karna is one of the main characters of the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. Karna was abandoned by his mother when he was just a baby. He was found by a charioteer who trained him in the art of war. He was known for his wisdom, generosity, and his skills. Legends say that he successfully conquered the whole world.
You May Also Like: Top 15 Interesting Facts About Greek Mythology
7. King Arthur:
King Arthur, King of the Britons, is said to have won the throne by pulling the famous Excalibur from a stone. This was a task that only a true king and warrior could achieve. During his reign, King Arthur brought peace and prosperity to Britain. It is also said that if Britain is in danger again, he will return with his knights to protect the nation.
8. Sigurd:
Also known as Siegfried, Sigurd was a legendary Norse hero, who was a descendent of Odin and a member of the Danish Royal Family. He was raised by a blacksmith who made a special sword for him that he used to slay a dragon and take its treasure. He had encountered a number of adventures throughout his life. His end was also tragic where he was killed by a warrior maiden.
Did You Know: What Was Lysol Originally Used for? You Will Be Surprised
9. Hercules:
This list cannot be completed without mentioning one of the greatest heroes of history, Heracles or Hercules. According to Greek and Roman mythology, Hercules was born with supernatural strength and by the time he reached adulthood, he killed a lion. He has a jealous stepmother, who drove him to insanity. In that state, he killed his wife and children. And to get his honor and respect back, he had to perform a number of difficult tasks.
10. Kusunoki Masashige
Kusunoki Masashige (1294? -1336) is famous both as a military strategist and for his unfailing devotion. In 1331, he joined Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) in a bid to wrest power back from the Kamakura Shogunate, under which the emperor had become a mere figurehead. Kusunoki’s greatest triumph came in 1332 when he defended Chihaya Castle, located south of Osaka, against the shogunate’s 100,000-man army with just 2,000 men.
11. Sun Wukong:
Sun Wukong is a Chinese hero whose stories go at least a thousand years back. Sun Wukong was also called the Monkey King as he was a monkey born from a stone but got supernatural powers by following the Taoist teachings. He had the power to leap half the world just by one somersault. He also had the power to transform into 72 different animals.
Must Read: Why Were Cornflakes Invented? Bizarre History
