The Hero of Athens

Son of Aegeus Grew up in

southern Greece with mom

Stone test: sword and shoes

Grandpa’s ship refused

Wanted to be just like cousin Hercules

Due unto others… Sciron’s

feetwashing Sinis’s pine trees Procrustes’ iron

bed

Unaware of son Too popular Poison- Medea’s

idea She knew Had stopped in

Athens and now held great influence

Son would disrupt things

Theseus wanting to make himself known

Draws sword Cup dashed to

ground Medea flees to Asia

Minos- King of Crete- son visited Athens

Aegeus gave him a quest

Kill a dangerous bull

Minos invaded

Option one: Burn Athens to the ground

Option two: every nine years send over seven maidens and seven youths

Minotaur’s dinner

Son of Minos’ wife Pasiphae and a beautiful bull given by Poseidon

Supposed to be a sacrifice

Couldn’t do it Punishment:

Pasiphae fell madly in love with it

Constructed by Daedalus

Never-ending maze Theseus arrived

right before the next installment was due

Secret plans to kill the Minotaur

Ship said changed from black to white

Minos’ daugther- Ariadne

Love at first sight Sent for Daedalus Promise of

marriage

Able to retrace your steps

Found the Minotaur alseep

Beat him to death with his fists

No other weapon

All 14 got out safely

Ariadne joins Back to Athens

• Version One: leaves her sleeping on beach

• Dionysus comfort her• Version Two: she was

seasick• Go to beach to

recover• Wind took them out

to sea• Came back and she

was dead

I forgot… Aegeus had been

keeping watch Threw himself off a

cliff Aegean Sea

Organized a commonwealth

Commander in Chief

Took in Oedipus and protected daughters

Stood by Hercules when others wouldn’t

Captured an Amazon- Hippolyta Son- Hippolytus Tried to get her back but failed

Very impulsive Stole some cattle Turned around

during pursuit Overcome with

admiration Oath of friendship

Unfortunate reception Centaurs were related to the bride Drunk and tried to carry off the women Theseus defended bride Centaurs driven out of the land

Wife #2 Theseus wanted

Helen (of Troy) Was only a child Bothers: Castor and

Pollux Got her back-

Theseus not to be found

Invited to sit in his presence

Chair of Forgetfullness

Pirithous sits forever

Theseus freed by cousin

Not allowed to free Pirithous

Ariadne’s sister and wife #2

Hippolytus sent to grow up where Theseus did

Splendid man Scorned Aphrodite

and worshipped Artemis

Phaedra fell in love with Hippolytus

Suicide interrupted by old nurse

Begs Hippolytus Disgusted

Theseus returns False note:

Hippolytus beat up Pheadra

Cursed him to Poseidon

Leaving by sea road; attacked by serpent and mortally wounded

Told Theseus the truth

Aphrodite’s fault Never forgotten Son dies

• Friend’s court- King Lycomedes

• Had been banished from Athens

• Lycomedes killed him • Not known how or

why• Honored in Athens

soon after• Temple in memory of

the protector of the defenseless