mythic figures

Mythic figures are characters from mythology—gods, heroes, monsters, and other beings whose stories form the sacred or traditional narratives of a culture.

Zeus, Thor, and Vishnu are mythic figures.

The term extends to legendary humans whose deeds have taken on larger-than-life proportions: Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed are mythic figures of American folklore.

Someone called a mythic figure in contemporary contexts has achieved a status beyond ordinary fame, becoming almost legendary: She's a mythic figure in jazz.