As I understand it, a "hero cult" is in many ways a sub-group that worship the god in the same way that the hero did. The hero benefits from this in that the worshippers are re-enacting the hero's actions as well as the god's actions, so both are reinforced. Therefore, I'd conclude that it is possible to be a devotee of a hero and a god. In fact, if you are a devotee of a hero, I'd say you pretty much have to be a devotee of the god - the hero certainly was, and you are emulating him, aren't you?
Philip Hibbs http://www.snark.freeserve.co.uk/ Opinions expressed may not even be my own, let alone those of any organisations, nations, species, or schools of thought to which I may be affiliated.
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