In the legend of Rama and Sita, which was written by Valmiki in the sixth century B.C., the hero is a mixture of types. Rama seems saintly in going into exile, full of consideration for everyone. When Sita is abducted, however, he becomes a great violent warrior determined to annihilate the enemy. Originally a loving husband, he treats Sita badly to prove her virtue. Finally, he returns home to rule as king. In this combination of holy man, warrior, scornful husband, king, and a god's incarnation one sees the diverse aspirations of Indian society transformed into a plausible hero.
The story of Buddha is only partially legendary, but it reveals a man whose steadfast pursuit of the truth led him to one of the most influential revelations in human history. We include it here to show a relatively slight mythical overlay on an actual personality; in contrast to Gilgamesh, an actual Sumerian king whose life is largely legendary; and in contrast to Osiris, where a remote figure has become entirely mythical.
