Theseus was a famous Greek hero and son of Aegeus, king of Athens. He went on many adventures as a young man, defeating dangerous monsters and villains. This established his reputation as a great warrior. One of his most famous feats was slaying the Minotaur in the Labyrinth of Crete and escaping with the help of Ariadne's string. His bravery ended the cruel tradition of Athens sending young people to be killed by the Minotaur.
2. Theseus the HeroTheseus the Hero
Theseus was a brave
hero of the Attic legend,
he also was son of
Aegeus, king of Athens.
In addition, Theseus
was a Greek hero in
Greek mythology.
3. Family MembersFamily Members
Aethra, Aegeus & Theseus
Aethra’s husband Aegeus; a great warrior had a sword and some sandals. When
Theseus was born, Agegeus did not recognize him as his son because Aethra
was also the lover of Poseidon. So he put Theseus to a test. He hid his sword and
sandals under a heavy rock. When Aethra thought it was time, she took Theseus
to the large boulder and told him to lift it.
4. Theseus’s Adventures fromTheseus’s Adventures from
Troezen to AthensTroezen to Athens
Aethra said to him to take the sword and sandals and go to Athens. At age 16 Theseus learned that
Aegeus had to prove his character before claiming his birthright, so he left on a risky adventure. He was
put to the test of thieves, monsters, and murderous brigands, but succeeded every challenge, and
returned to Athens unrecognized by his father, the King.
5. Fact 1: Theseus and ScironFact 1: Theseus and Sciron
On one of the many adventures he had, Theseus kills Sciron, a robber with the fame
for taking the lives of others. Anyway, on this adventure, Sciron a huge man along with
his battle axe demanded Theseus to wash his feet. But Theseus asked “What would
happen if I don’t wash your feet?” Sciron replied: “I will chop off your head with this axe!”
So, Theseus sat down and started to wash his feet. Luckily he looked over to the side of a
cliff and saw a monstrous turtle at the bottom. When he took a grasp of Sciron’s foot he
hurled Sciron off the cliff.
6. Fact 2: Minos, Theseus and the RingFact 2: Minos, Theseus and the Ring
Theseus said to Minos that he was the prince of Athens and the son of Poseidon.
“So if you are the prince of Athens, wouldn’t Aegeus be your father?”, Minos asked.
To prove Theseus was Poseidon’s son, Minos threw a ring off a ship and told Thesues
to fetch it. Thesesus dived into the water and returned with the ring and an old crown
which was given to him by Thetis, a nymph.
7. Fact 3: Theseus and ProcrustesFact 3: Theseus and Procrustes
On another of his adventures he saw a large house and decided to asked the
owner for a bed for the night. A man came up and gladly said “ Come in!” . The
man said that his name was Procrustes and informed him about his magic bed
that could fit anyone but in a unpleasant way. If a person was to short, Procrustes
would chain their arms and legs and stretch them. Thesesus pushed Procrustes onto
the bed and chopped his legs off.
8. Summary: Theseus and the MinotaurSummary: Theseus and the Minotaur
King Minos , due to the death of his son whileKing Minos , due to the death of his son while
visiting Athens, required the Athenians to sendvisiting Athens, required the Athenians to send
seven young men, and seven young womenseven young men, and seven young women
every seven years to Crete. Once there, theevery seven years to Crete. Once there, the
youths would be put into the Labyrinth of theyouths would be put into the Labyrinth of the
Minotaur. In the Labyrinth, the young would beMinotaur. In the Labyrinth, the young would be
killed by the Minotaur, and eaten.killed by the Minotaur, and eaten.
Theseus determined to end such an harshTheseus determined to end such an harsh
tradition. His father told the Athenians who weretradition. His father told the Athenians who were
leaving to return with white sails if Theseus wasleaving to return with white sails if Theseus was
successful in his mission, and, if not, return withsuccessful in his mission, and, if not, return with
black sails.black sails.
Shortly after arriving in Crete, Ariadne, KingShortly after arriving in Crete, Ariadne, King
Mino’s daughter, secretly instructed him to carryMino’s daughter, secretly instructed him to carry
a ball of string into the Labyrinth, so he would nota ball of string into the Labyrinth, so he would not
be lost.be lost.
Theseus proceed into the Labyrinth. He soonTheseus proceed into the Labyrinth. He soon
aproached the deadly Minotaur, and killed theaproached the deadly Minotaur, and killed the
monster.monster.
The Gods made Theseus and his sailors to forgetThe Gods made Theseus and his sailors to forget
to raise the white sails. When the ship cameto raise the white sails. When the ship came
close to Athens, Aegeus saw the black sails, andclose to Athens, Aegeus saw the black sails, and
threw himself off the cliff into the sea.threw himself off the cliff into the sea.