Birth and Childhood● Son of Aegeus & Aethra○ Aegeus: king of Athens○ Aethra: princess of Troezen○ Poseidon as reputed father● Brought up in Troezen with Aethra○ Sword & sandals left by Aegeus● Travel to athens as young man○ Labors along the way○ Recognition by AegeusEarly labors● Kills robbers & murderers ○ Periphetes: killed people with a club○ Cercyon: killed people by wrestling them○ Sow: ferocious beast (or murderess?)○ Sciron: pushed people into sea○ Sinis: tore people apart by tying to tress○ Procrustes: made people fit into his bed● Makes journeys safer for travelers○ Civilizing figure like HeraclesThe Minotaur & Athens● Athenian tribute to Minos○ 14 youths offered to Minotaur○ Theseus volunteers to kill Minotaur● Theseus & Ariadne○ Ariadne as ancient heroine● Return to Athens & death of Aegeus● Theseus’ reform in Athens○ Unification○ Democratic leaningsTheseus & Perithous● Perithous: Challenger becomes friend● The quest for wives○ kidnapping of Helen○ Attempted kidnapping of Persephone○ Trapped in Underworld, rescued by Heracles● Plutarch: Underworld story rationalized○ Father Aidoneus, mother Phersephone○ Daughter Kore○ Fight with dog CerberusTheseus & Hero Motifs● Uncertain parentage○ raised away from father● Sandals & Sword: recognition tokens● Adventures○ Defeat of criminals & monsters○ self-starter: ignores worries of family● Help from Ariadne ● Trip to the Underworld○ Loss of PerithousTheseus & Hero Motifs● Hero roles○ Civilizer like Heracles○ Savior (5th C. Athens: anti-tyranny)○ Cult hero in Athens after death○ Athenian founder figure● Complicated rewards○ Love of Ariadne○ Kingship of AthensPlutarch’s Life of Theseus● Legend made into history○ Links between contemporary places and past○ Multiple versions and sources consulted● Theseus as founder○ Athenian constitution and religious rites○ Link to Roman founder