Heroic Age

The Heroic Age (Ηρωική Εποχή ή Γένος των Ηρώων) in Greek mythological history is defined as the period between the coming of the Greeks to Thessaly and the Greek return from Troy. It was demarcated as one of the five Ages of Man by Hesiod. The period spans roughly six generations; the heroes denoted by the term are superhuman, though not divine, and are celebrated in the literature of Homer.

The Greek heroes can be grouped into an approximate chronology, based on the great meet-up events of the Argonautic expedition and the Trojan War.

Before the Argonauts

 * Aeacus
 * Agenor and Phoenix
 * Cadmus
 * Europa
 * Cilix
 * Labdacus
 * Tantalus
 * Oenomaeus
 * Perseus
 * Aegeus, father of Theseus
 * Pittheus

The generation of the Argonauts
(about three generations before Troy)

The Argonauts:
 * Atalanta
 * Autolycus
 * Calais
 * Castor and Pollux
 * Echion
 * Euphemus
 * Euryalus
 * Heracles
 * Hylas
 * Idas
 * Idmon
 * Jason
 * Laertes
 * Lynceus
 * Meleager
 * Nestor
 * Oileus
 * Orpheus
 * Peleus
 * Poeas
 * Polyphemus
 * Poriclymenus
 * Telamon
 * Theseus
 * Tiphys
 * Zetes
 * Medea

Others:
 * Pelops
 * Hippodamia
 * Laius
 * Minos
 * Rhadymanthus
 * Sarpedon
 * Myrtilus

The Generation of Oedipus
(about two generation before Troy)


 * Plisthenes
 * Atreus
 * Thyestes
 * Chrysippus
 * Copreus
 * Oedipus
 * Creon
 * Laodamia

The Generation of the Seven Against Thebes
(about a generation before Troy)


 * Adrastus
 * Amphiaraus
 * Capaneus
 * Hippomedon
 * Parthenopeus
 * Polynices
 * Tydeus
 * Adrastus
 * Creon
 * Megareus
 * Poriclymenus
 * Melanippus
 * Polyphontes
 * Hyperbius
 * Actor
 * Lasthenes
 * Antigone
 * Ismene

The Generation of the Trojan War
See Trojan War and Epigoni.

The Generation after the Trojan War

 * Orestes
 * Electra
 * Telemachus
 * Neoptolemus
 * Ascanius