The Pattern of the Hero's Life from pp 179/80

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - THE HERO

1. The hero's mother is a royal virgin

2. His father is a king and

3. Often a near relative of his mother, but

4. The circumstances of his conception are unusual and

5. He is reputed to be a son of a god.

6. At birth an attempt is made, usually by his father or his maternal grandfather, to kill him but

7. He is spirited away, and

8. Reared by foster parents in a far country.

9. We are told nothing of his childhood but

10. On reaching manhood he returns or goes to his future kingdom.

11. After a victory over the king and/or a giant, dragon, or wild beast

12. He marries a Princess, often the daughter of his predecessor and

13. Becomes King

14. For a time he reigns uneventfully and

15. Proscribes laws, but

16. Later he losses favour with the gods and/or his subjects, and

17. Is driven from the throne and city, after which

18. He meets a mysterious death,

19. Often at the top of a hill.

20. His children, if any, do not succeed him.

21. His body is not buried, but nevertheless

22. He has one or more holy sepulchres..

Applied to Oedipus, Theseus, Romulus, Heracles, Perseus, Jason, Belleraphon, Pelops, Asclepios, Dionysos, Apollo, Zeus, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Watu Gunung, Nykang, Sigurd or Siegfried, Llew Llawgyffes, Arthur, Robin Hood,