ABSTRACT
Every culture has its heroes, both living and mythic. Hero myths can be divided into two main categories. First are the myths of the purely human hero. Another human hero is Moses, who is divinely inspired but of purely mortal origins. Related to the hero myths are the myths of great kings, such as Alexander, about whom a mythic cycle was forming even during his brief life. He is generally not portrayed as a true hero, but rather as a mighty king who learns humility. Other myth cycles have formed about King Arthur of Britain, Charlemagne of the Frankish lands, and Prince Vladimir of Kiev; these myths deal with the adventures of the knights and, in the case of Arthur, the quest for the Holy Grail, with its Christian elements and pagan roots. There are also myth cycles from Egypt and England, among others, about great sages or magicians such as Vol'ka of Russia or Merlin of Britain.
