The earliest literary sources do not use the term hero with the meaning used in subsequent periods, or refer to heroic cult directly.

Since eighth century BC, there is a small and scattered group of sanctuaries, associated with epic or mythical heroes and identified by inscribed dedications, in most cases after the foundation of worship.

[4] The heroes of myth and epic performed heroic acts, have founders of cities and sanctuaries, inventors and ancestors of large families.

Perhaps a curious group of heroes are those who are children or even babies, as in the case of Opheltes infant, who was killed by a snake near a spring at Nemea.

Being closer than gods to mankind hero or heroine is important for the support of community members in different aspects of everyday life.

[7] In 1909 the British School at Athens conducted with John Percival Droop, M. S. Thompson, and Alan Wace the first systematic excavation of the archaeological site.

[8] The excavation revealed a Late Mycenaean structure built with raw brick coated with painted plaster on the eastern peak of the ridge of Menelaeion hill.

Catling's excavation revealed a bronze aryballos with incised boustrophedon inscription, «ΔΕΙΝΙΣ ΑΝΕΘΕΕ [ΕΛΕΝΗΙ, ΣΥΖΥΓΟΝ] ΜΕΝΕΛΑΪ» (Deinis offered to Helen, wife of Menelaus).