Theseus, the greatest Athenian hero

In Greek mythology, Theseus can truely be thought of as the greatest Athenian hero.

He was the son of Aegeus, king of Athens, and Aethra, princess of Troezen, and daughter of

Pittheus, king of Troezen.

Before Theseus was born his fathe r Aegeus left Aethra in Troezen of Argolis and

returned to Athens before he was born. But before he left king Aegeus put his sword and his

pair of sandals under a large rock and said to Aethra that when Theseus was old enough to lift

the heavy rock that Theseus should take the sword and sandals and come to see him in

Athens.

At the age of 16 after being brought up in Troezen, Theseus was finally able to lift the

heavy rock. Theseus with his long blond hair then took the sword and the sandals and began

his journey to Athens to claim Aegeus as his father.

Theseus with the Head of Minotaur

Temple of Poseidon - Northern fascade

Theseus and Aethra, by Laurent de La Hyre

The young Theseus made his hazardous

journey by the coast road along the Isthmus, clearing the road of six villains, murderers, and

monsters which inhabited the road. Theseus killed these villains by the same method by which

they had murdered their own victims. Among the villains that Theseus killed, were Sciron,

Sinis, Procrustes and Phaea.

Theseus arrived in Athens wearing a sword and a pair of sandals that Aegeus had left

for him in Troezen. He was then greeted by his father Aegeus and his stepmother Medea

who was a sorceress. But she was jealous of his influence over Aegeus so Medea tried to kill

him by sending him to kill a wild bull. But Theseus succeeded and sacrificed the bull to Apollo.

He then returned to Athens and was almost poisoned by Medea, but as soon as Aegeus got

wind of her plot, he proclaimed Theseus his...