In the Geometric Greek period (8th Century BC), there was an interesting development from Ancestor Worship to the worship of Heroes.  This was inspired by the rise of Homer and other poets. The belief was that the Heroes had been so significant in life that they could act as go-betweens between the living and the dead. Despite their often bloodthirsty acts in life, they became  defenders, healers and oracles and guaranteed fertility of the land.  The idea that they had created an access of power by their heroic acts is similar to the idea of Christian saints which came much later. In this case, they filled a role often associated with stone circle’s as the guardians of the land.  Often they were fixed