Classics 10: Chapter 16 Theseus and the Myths of AthensTheseus and Myths of AthensThe Earliest Athenian KingsErichthoniusThe Athenian AcropolisErechtheum (= House of Erectheus), next to ParthenonErechtheus to AegeusThe Begetting of TheseusSlide 9The Labors of TheseusThe Coastal Road from Troezen to AthensSlide 12Slide 13Theseus Comes to AthensTheseus Goes to CreteTheseus, King of AthensTheseus and AntiopêThe AmazonomachyMyth used for Politics: Amazons as PersiansTheseus and HippolytusEuripides’ Hippolytus (428 BCE)Slide 22Theseus and PirithoüsSlide 24Slide 25Slide 26The Death of TheseusTheseus at AthensSlide 29The Politics of MythClassics 10: Chapter 16Theseus and the Myths of AthensI. The Earliest Athenian KingsII. Theseus: Birth and LaborsIII. Amazons and CentaursIV. Theseus and the Glory of AthensNicolas Poussin, 1634, Theseus Finding His Fathers’ ArmsSECOND EXAM TOMORROWTheseus and Myths of Athens•Theseus a minor figure in 7th Century BCE•But as Athens rises, Theseus’ importance rises with it (700-500 BCE)•Early Athenian myths confused, without clear chronology or lineage–Cf. Perseus and Mycenae (Bronze Age power)•The myths of Theseus show how myth became political by Classical PeriodThe Earliest Athenian Kings•Three different versions of the origins of the Athenians:–Descended from Athena (but she’s a virgin!)–Autochthonous (“sprung from the earth,” without any human ancestor at all!)–Descended from Cecrops•Half man, half snake (himself autochthonous?)•Great founding ancestor, who brought laws, civilization, proper worship of the godsErichthonius•Successor to Cecrops was Erichthonius, who brings together all three options•Erichthonius: “The man of wool and earth”–Hephaestus tried to rape Athena on the Acropolis–He ejaculates on her leg, she wipes it off in disgust with a piece of wool, drops the wool on the ground–Up springs Erichthonius, whom Athena raises –Hence he is autochthonous and yet has Athena for a mother; succeeds Cecrops•Later builds a shrine to his mother Athena on the Acropolis of Athens; Persians destroy it–Later rebuilt as the Parthenon (the Temple of Athena Parthenos – “the Virgin”)The Athenian Acropolis•Main Temple = Parthenon, masterpiece of Classical Greek architecture•Erectheum near top leftErechtheum (= House of Erectheus), next to ParthenonThe Porch of the Maidens featuressix famous statues as columns (calledcaryatids), often imitatedRebuilt ca. 420-400 BCE in this formErechtheus to Aegeus•Grandson of Erichthonius is Erectheus, for whom the Erectheum on the Acropolis is named•Demeter came to Eleusis during reign of Erechtheus (see Chapter 10)•Grandson of Erectheus is Pandion, who has two sons, Aegeus and Pallas–Aegeus becomes king but has no heir–Pallas has 50 sons and wants powerThe Begetting of Theseus•Aegeus goes to Delphi to ask the oracle how he could have a son •Aegeus does not understand the oracle’s answer, goes to Troezen to ask his friend Pittheus to help interpret it•Pittheus understands that it is telling Aegeus he is immediately ready to father a child, responds by getting Aegeus drunk and sending his daughter Aethra to Aegeus’ bed•Instructed by a dream, Aethra then goes to the sea to make a sacrifice, where Poseidon appears out of the sea and rapes herThe Begetting of Theseus•Theseus thus conceived with two fathers–Compare Alcmena, who sleeps with Amphitryon and Zeus and bears twin sons, Iphicles and Heracles–Theseus has no twin, but born of both fathers•Aegeus instructs Aethra to raise Theseus in secret (he fears his brother Pallas)•Aegeus places his sword and his sandals under a very heavy rock•Tells Aethra that when their son is strong enough to lift the rock, then he should come to Athens with the objects he finds thereThe Labors of Theseus•Theseus grows up, lifts the rock, sets out for Athens on the Coastal Road•Between Troezen and Athens, he performs six famous deeds of strength•These six labors became a sort of counterpoint to the labors of Heracles–Heracles from Peloponnesus, allies of Sparta–Athens became great enemy of Sparta, wanted a great hero of its own•Theseus victorious by killing the bad guys in the way that they had killed othersThe Coastal Road from Troezen to Athens•All 6 labors performed in succession on this routeThe Labors of Theseus1. Periphetes, the “Clubber”Theseus bashes his head with his own iron club2. Sinis, the “Pinebender”Theseus has him thrown by a tree3. Crommyonian sowEnormous pig killed by Theseus (how?)4. ScironWould compel travelers to wash his feet, then kick them down a cliff where a giant turtle (!) would eat themTheseus kicks him down the cliffThe Labors of Theseus5. CercyonTheseus wrestles and kills this fierce wrestler6. Procrustes and the “Procrustean Bed”Had two beds, one bigger and one smallerWould offer lodging to travelers, then saw off or stretch out his guests so that they would fit the bed exactlyNow an idiom for short-sighted bureaucracy, the idea that everything must be formed to meet an arbitrary standardTheseus sawed Procrustes to death in one of his bedsTheseus Comes to Athens•Theseus arrives in Athens already a hero•Aegeus does not immediately recognize Theseus by his sword and sandals–The sorceress Medea is Theseus’ rival•Aegeus sends him to kill a bull on the plain of Marathon, which he does–The one Heracles had brought back from Crete–The father of the Minotaur on Crete•Aegeus at last comes to his senses, recognizes Theseus, designates him as heir–Dramatic scene with a cup of poison!•Theseus fights and kills the 50 sons of PallasTheseus Goes to Crete•Theseus then goes to Crete to kill the Minotaur and release Athens from the control of King Minos on Crete (Chapter 17)•Had promised his father that if successful he would change his sail for his return trip from black to white•Kills the Minotaur but forgets to change the sail•Aegeus sees the black sail in the distance, throws himself in the sea and dies•Now called the Aegean Sea in his honor–Shows the influence of the Athenian Navy!Theseus, King of Athens•Theseus thus returns to tragedy but inherits the kingship•Reorganizes region of Attica under Athens•Founds the Panathenaic Festival, which celebrates the unity of Attica under Athens•Founds the popular assembly for political participation by the people•But did he really do these things historically?–Later