Theseus

Aegeus, the king of Athens, had been married twice but had no children. He was so desperate for an heir that he made a pilgrimage to Delphi to consult the oracle. But the answer was unclear, so he went to Troezen to visit his wise friend Pittheus, who ruled that city. On Pittheus's advice, Aegeus secretly married Pittheus's daughter, Aethra.

After spending some time with his bride, Aegeus prepared to return to his own kingdom. Before leaving, he led Aethra to the seashore, placed his sword and sandals under a huge rock, and said to her: "If the gods bless our union with a son, do not tell him who his father is until he is strong enough to move this stone. Then send him to my palace in Athens carrying these tokens of his identity."

A son was born to Aethra, and she named him Theseus. He was carefully raised and educated by his grandfather Pittheus. When he grew into a strong and manly youth, his mother led him to the spot where the rock had been placed by Aegeus. At her command, he rolled away the stone and took the sword and sandals that had lain there for sixteen years. She then told him to take them to his father, Aegeus, king of Athens.

His mother and grandfather wanted him to travel by the safe sea route, because the road between Troezen and Athens was infested with fierce and powerful robbers. But Theseus felt the spirit of a hero within him and decided to emulate the deeds of Heracles, whose fame filled all of Greece. He chose the more dangerous land journey, hoping for a chance to distinguish himself through feats of valor.

His first adventure occurred at Epidaurus, where he met Periphetes, a son of Hephaestus. Periphetes was armed with an iron club, which he used to kill all travelers. Having learned about this savage from his grandfather, Theseus recognized him at once, rushed at him with his sword, and after a fierce fight, killed him. He took the club as a trophy and continued his journey without trouble until he reached the Isthmus of Corinth.

There, the people warned him about Sinnis the robber, who forced all travelers to bend a tall pine tree branch with him. When the branch was pulled to the ground, Sinnis would suddenly let go, causing the branch to spring back and hurl the victim into the air, killing them. When Theseus saw Sinnis coming toward him, he waited calmly, then struck the cruel wretch with his powerful club, killing him with one blow.

Passing through the wooded district of Crommyon, Theseus next killed a wild and dangerous sow that had long ravaged the land.

He then continued to the borders of Megara, where on a narrow path overhanging the sea lived the wicked Scyron, another terror to travelers. Scyron forced all strangers to wash his feet, then kicked them over the cliff into the sea. Theseus boldly attacked the giant, overcame him, and threw his body over the cliff where so many of his victims had died.

Theseus now traveled to Eleusis, where he found another adversary in King Cercyon, who forced all comers to wrestle with him and killed those he defeated. Theseus overcame the mighty wrestler and killed him.

Near Eleusis, on the banks of the river Cephissus, Theseus met a new challenge. There lived the giant Damastes, called Procrustes or the Stretcher, who had two iron beds, one long and one short. He forced all strangers into them: tall men he put in the short bed and cut off their limbs to fit; short men he put in the long bed and stretched them to fit. Thus he left his victims to die in terrible torment. Theseus freed the country from this monster by doing the same to him.

The hero continued his journey and finally reached Athens without further adventures. When he arrived, he found his father helpless under the influence of the sorceress Medea, whom Aegeus had married after she left Corinth. Using her supernatural powers, Medea knew that Theseus was the king's son and feared her influence would weaken. She poisoned the old king's mind against the stranger, claiming he was a spy. They planned to invite Theseus to a banquet and poison his wine.

Theseus had intended to reveal himself at this feast to the father he longed to embrace. Before drinking the wine, he put his plan into action and drew his sword so the king would see it. When Aegeus saw the familiar weapon he had often used, he knew the man before him was his son. He warmly embraced him, presented him as his heir to the court and people, and then banished Medea forever from his kingdom.

When Theseus was acknowledged as the rightful heir to the throne, the fifty sons of Pallas, the king's brother, opposed him. They had expected to rule when the old king died and plotted to kill Theseus. But Theseus learned of their plan, surprised them as they lay in ambush, and destroyed them all.

Fearing that the Athenians might resent him for killing their fellow citizens, the Pallantids, Theseus decided to perform a great service for the state to win the people's hearts. He resolved to rid the country of the famous bull of Marathon, which had become a terror to farmers. He captured the animal and brought it in chains to Athens, where he publicly showed it to the amazed crowd and then solemnly sacrificed it to Apollo.

Theseus's next venture far surpassed all his other heroic deeds and earned him the universal admiration and gratitude of his citizens. This was the killing of the Minotaur, which ended forever the shameful tribute of seven youths and seven maidens that the Athenians had to send every nine years.

The origin of this tribute was as follows: Androgeos, the young son of Minos, king of Crete, was treacherously murdered by the Athenians. To avenge his son, Minos declared war on King Aegeus, conquered Athens and the surrounding villages, and forced the Athenians to send him every nine years a tribute of seven youths and seven maidens from the noblest families. These became prey to the Minotaur, a monster half-man and half-bull, who lived in the wonderful labyrinth built by Daedalus for the Cretan king.

When Theseus told his father of his heroic plan, Aegeus was overwhelmed with grief and tried every means to shake his son's resolve. But Theseus was confident and assured his father that he would kill the Minotaur and return home victorious.

The vessel carrying the unhappy human victims customarily used only black sails on this voyage. Theseus promised his father that if he returned safely, he would hoist white sails instead.

Before leaving Athens, on the advice of an oracle, Theseus chose Aphrodite as his guardian and offered a sacrifice to her. When he arrived before King Minos, the goddess of Love inspired Ariadne, the king's beautiful daughter, with a deep affection for the noble young hero. During a secret meeting where they confessed their love, Ariadne gave him a sharp sword and a ball of thread. She told him to fasten the end of the thread at the entrance to the labyrinth and unwind it until he reached the Minotaur's lair. Full of hope, Theseus thanked the kind maiden and took his leave.

Led by Minos, Theseus and his companions entered the labyrinth. Following Ariadne's instructions carefully, he found the Minotaur, fought fiercely, and killed it. Then, using the thread, he guided his companions safely out. They fled to their ship, taking with them the lovely maiden whose love for their deliverer had saved them.

Arriving at the island of Naxos, Theseus had a dream. The wine-god Dionysus appeared to him and said that the Fates had decreed Ariadne would be his bride. He threatened Theseus with misfortunes if he refused to give her up. Since Theseus had been taught from youth to respect the gods, he feared to disobey. Sadly, he said farewell to the beautiful girl who loved him so tenderly and left her on the lonely island, where Dionysus later found and wooed her.

Theseus and his companions deeply felt the loss of their benefactress, and in their grief, they forgot that the ship still carried the black sails it had left with. As the ship neared the port of Athens, Aegeus, anxiously waiting on the beach for his son's return, saw the black sails and thought his gallant son had died. In despair, he threw himself into the sea.

With the unanimous approval of the Athenians, Theseus ascended the throne. He soon proved himself not only a brave hero but also a wise prince and prudent lawmaker. Athens was then a small city surrounded by villages, each with its own government. Through kind and conciliatory measures, Theseus persuaded the leaders of these communities to give up their power and entrust public affairs to a court that would sit permanently in Athens and rule over all of Attica. As a result, the Athenians became a united and powerful people, and many strangers and foreigners flocked to Athens, making it a flourishing seaport and important commercial center.

Theseus revived the Isthmian Games and also established many festivals, the most important being the Panathenaea, held in honor of Athene Polias.

It is said that Theseus once arrived during a voyage at the Amazonian coast. Curious about his visit, the Amazons sent Hippolyte with presents to the stranger. But as soon as the fair herald stepped onto his ship, Theseus set sail and carried her off to Athens, where he made her his queen. Enraged by this insult, the Amazons planned revenge. Some time later, when the matter seemed forgotten, they seized the opportunity when Athens was defenseless and landed an army in Attica. Their attack was so sudden that they reached the heart of the city before the Athenians could organize. But Theseus quickly gathered his troops and launched a furious assault, driving the invaders out after a desperate fight. Peace was made, and the Amazons left the country. During the battle, Hippolyte, forgetting her origins, fought bravely beside her husband against her own people and died on the battlefield.

Soon after this sad event, Theseus joined the famous Calydonian Boar Hunt, where he played a leading role. He also became one of the brave band who shared the dangers of the Argonautic expedition.

The remarkable friendship between Theseus and Pirithoeus began under unusual circumstances. Hearing that Pirithoeus had stolen his herds from the plains of Marathon, Theseus gathered an armed force and set out to punish the thief. But when the two heroes met face to face, they were both filled with mutual admiration. Pirithoeus held out his hand in peace and said, "What satisfaction shall I give you, O Theseus? You be the judge." Theseus took the offered hand and replied, "I ask only for your friendship." Then they embraced and swore eternal loyalty.

Soon after, when Pirithoeus married Hippodamia, a Thessalian princess, he invited Theseus to the wedding feast. Among the guests were many Centaurs, friends of Pirithoeus. Toward the end of the banquet, Eurytion, a young Centaur, heated with wine, seized the beautiful bride and tried to carry her off. The other Centaurs followed his example, each trying to capture a maiden. Pirithoeus and his followers, with Theseus's valuable help, attacked the Centaurs. After a violent hand-to-hand struggle in which many died, they forced the Centaurs to give up their prey.

After Hippolyte's death, Theseus sought the hand of Phaedra, the sister of his former bride Ariadne, and married her. For several years they lived happily, and their union was blessed with two sons. During this time, Hippolytus, the son of the Amazon queen, had been away, raised by the king's uncles. When he returned as a young man to his father's palace, his young stepmother Phaedra fell passionately in love with him. But Hippolytus did not return her affection and treated her with contempt. Filled with rage and despair at his coldness, Phaedra took her own life. When her husband found her, she held a letter accusing Hippolytus of causing her death and of plotting against the king's honor.

Now Poseidon had once promised to grant Theseus whatever he asked. Theseus called on the sea-god to destroy Hippolytus, cursing him solemnly. The father's terrible curse fell all too soon on his innocent son. As Hippolytus drove his chariot along the seashore between Troezen and Athens, a monster sent by Poseidon rose from the deep, frightening the horses so much that they became uncontrollable. They rushed wildly, smashing the chariot, and the unfortunate youth, his feet tangled in the reins, was dragged along until he was nearly dead.

In this condition, the unhappy Theseus found him. Having learned the truth from an old servant of Phaedra, he had hurried to prevent the disaster, but arrived too late. He could only soothe the last moments of his dying son by acknowledging his terrible mistake and declaring his firm belief in Hippolytus's honor and innocence.

After these events, Theseus's friend Pirithoeus, who had also lost his young wife Hippodamia, persuaded Theseus to join him on a journey through Greece to forcibly carry off the most beautiful maidens they met.

Arriving at Sparta, they saw Helen, daughter of Zeus and Leda, in the temple of Artemis, performing sacred dances in honor of the goddess. Though only nine years old, her beauty—destined to play a great part in Greek history—had already spread far and wide. Theseus and Pirithoeus abducted her, and when they drew lots, she fell to Theseus, who placed her under the care of his mother Aethra.

Pirithoeus then asked Theseus to help him with an ambitious plan: to descend to the underworld and carry off Persephone, the queen of Hades. Though fully aware of the dangers, Theseus would not abandon his friend. Together they entered the gloomy realm of shadows. But Hades had been warned of their approach. No sooner had they set foot in his kingdom than, at his command, they were seized, bound with chains, and fastened to an enchanted rock at the entrance of Hades. There the two friends languished for many years, until Heracles passed by while searching for Cerberus and released Theseus. But obeying the gods' command, he left Pirithoeus to suffer forever for his overambitious daring.

While Theseus was imprisoned in the underworld, Castor and Pollux, Helen's brothers, invaded Athens and demanded the return of their young sister. Fearing war, an Athenian citizen named Academus, who knew where Helen was hidden, went to the camp of the Dioscuri and told them where to find her. Aethra immediately gave up her charge, and the brothers left Athens with Helen, returning to their homeland.

Theseus's long absence caused other serious troubles. A faction led by Menesthius, a descendant of Erechtheus, took advantage of the situation, seized power, and took over the government.

When Theseus returned to Athens, he took immediate action to quell the rebellion everywhere. He removed Menesthius from office, severely punished the leaders of the revolt, and placed himself back on the throne. But he had lost his hold on the people. His past services were forgotten. Finding that dissension and revolts were widespread, he voluntarily gave up the throne and retired to his estates on the island of Scyros. There, Lycomedes, the island's king, pretended to welcome him warmly. But it is believed that Lycomedes was in league with Menesthius. He led the old king to the top of a high cliff, pretending to show him his estates, and treacherously pushed him off to his death.

Many centuries after his death, at the command of the oracle of Delphi, Cimon, the father of Miltiades, brought the remains of Theseus, the great benefactor of Athens, to that city. A temple was built in his honor, which still stands today and serves as a museum of art.