culture hero

American  

noun

1. a mythical or mythicized historical figure who embodies the aspirations or ideals of a society.

2. 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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Example Sentences

“Seeing White Raven today confirms both his trickster and culture hero nature, bringing benefits to the human world — including laughter and humor.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 20, 2023

Then there was Miki Dora, king of Malibu and still the greatest culture hero in all of California surfing — our very own Elvis, the last word in coastal cool.

From New York Times • Sep. 28, 2019

Sitting in a wheelchair, neck askew and peering from behind thick glasses, he became an impish yet towering pop culture hero; invoking his name or mimicking his electronic voice, was shorthand for brilliance and resolve.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2018

Tyler Durden became a pop culture hero to a certain quarter of the male population.

From Salon • Oct. 7, 2014

Mythic.—Certain elements of the story point to Arthur as a culture hero; as such his name has been identified with the Mercurius Artaius of the Gauls.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various