[Dingfod]

hero - n

#1. In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods.
#2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war.
#3. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field: the heroes of medicine. See Synonyms at celebrity.
#4. The principal male character in a novel, poem, or dramatic presentation.

I'm pretty sure definition #1 was the first usage of the term, all uses since have trivialized it's original reverence for the gods.