New Acropolis Pune branch hosted a talk titled “The Heroic Way – Lessons from Mythologies”, on 1 November 2025.
The speaker explained the etymology of the word mythology originating from the word mythos and how mythologies often hold profound truths about life. Philosophy, often involves unveiling symbolic meanings behind the stories allowing seekers to discover these truths of life.
Exploring the story of the character of the Hero Arjuna in the Mahabharata and that of Hercules in Greek mythology the speaker highlighted the idea of the heroic spirit and the portrayal of the duality of human nature where a seemingly vulnerable human, eventually stands tall as a demigod embodying the mortal and divine.
Key qualities of a Hero were also discussed outlining, courage, determination perseverance, redemption and above all a spirit of adventure, demonstrating that the journey of the hero in mythology mirrors that of the human being, one who embraces life’s challenges, gains experience and emerges victorious by practicing virtues.
The talk concluded with an inspirational quote from Former President of New Acropolis International Organisation, Delia Steinberg Guzman
“The skill of the Philosopher in search of wisdom lies in finding in the here and now, in the midst of errors and ignorance, in the midst of darkness and traps, those hidden realities that are waiting for the efforts of valiant human beings to bring them to light, so that they can shine with all their power.”
The speaker reminded participants that to be a Philosopher is also to be on a heroic journey, and that Love and a deep sense of Purpose drive the hero forward.
