culture hero
- a mythical or mythicized historical figure who embodies the aspirations or ideals of a society.
- a mythical figure considered by a people to have furnished it the means of existence or survival, as by inventing their alphabet, teaching them husbandry, or stealing fire from the gods for them.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for culture hero
Historical Examples
He also acted as a "culture-hero," introducing the first arts.
Myth, Ritual, and Religion, Vol. 1Andrew Lang
Nuada of the Silver Hand is a culture-hero and a cunning craftsman.
An Introduction to MythologyLewis Spence
The "culture-hero" thus seems to be a natural product of incipient civilization.
Introduction to the History of ReligionsCrawford Howell Toy
He once lived on earth, and there was a culture-hero, inventing magic and spells.
Myth, Ritual And Religion, Vol. 2 (of 2)Andrew Lang
Pundjel, the Eagle Hawk, is the demiurge and "culture-hero" of several Australian tribes.
Ballades and Verses VainAndrew Lang