Chapter 16

Theseus

The national hero of Athens, Theseus was the son of Aegeus and Aethra (and possibly Poseidon). He performed six heroic labors on his journey to Athens and later killed the Minotaur in Crete. As king, he unified Attica, founded democratic institutions, and symbolized Athenian strength and unity. He later became a model for political propaganda by leaders like Pisistratus and Cimon.

Cecrops

Cecrops was the first king of Athens, depicted as half-man, half-snake, symbolizing autochthonous origin. He introduced civilization—monogamy, burial rites, and worship of Zeus—and ruled during the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the city’s patronage. The Athenians traced their descent from him and celebrated his mythical founding role.

Erichthonius

Erichthonius was born when Hephaestus’ semen fell to the earth after a failed pursuit of Athena. Athena raised him and entrusted him to Cecrops' daughters, two of whom went mad upon looking at him. He later became king of Athens and honored Athena by setting up her sacred image on the Acropolis.

Procnê

Daughter of Pandion, Procnê married Tereus as a reward for his military aid to Athens. After he raped her sister Philomela, Procnê took revenge by murdering her own son Itys and serving him to Tereus in a meal. Her myth ends in transformation into a bird.

Philomela

Sister of Procnê, she was raped by Tereus and had her tongue cut out to silence her. She wove a tapestry telling the story and delivered it to her sister. Her revenge, along with Procnê, led to their transformation into birds.

Tereus

A Thracian king and husband of Procnê, Tereus was rewarded for military aid but soon committed a horrific crime by raping and mutilating Philomela. His punishment came through divine metamorphosis after being tricked into eating his son.

Itys

Itys was the son of Tereus and Procnê, who was killed by his mother as revenge for Tereus’ violation of Philomela. His death was part of a deeply disturbing myth that ended in the transformation of all involved into birds.

Erechtheus

Erechtheus was a legendary king of Athens, likely conflated with Erichthonius. He was said to have sacrificed his own daughter in a time of war. His name was later linked with a shrine on the Acropolis and with the foundational myth of Athenian identity.

Aegeus

King of Athens and father of Theseus, Aegeus left a sword and sandals under a rock as a test for his future son. Upon mistakenly believing Theseus had died on Crete, he threw himself into the sea, which was thereafter named the Aegean Sea.

Aethra

Daughter of Pittheus and mother of Theseus, Aethra conceived her son after being with both Aegeus and Poseidon on the same night. She raised Theseus in secret until he was strong enough to retrieve the tokens of his identity and go to Athens.

Procrustes

A notorious villain who tortured travelers by forcing them to fit into beds of fixed size, stretching or amputating as needed. Theseus killed him by subjecting him to his own sadistic method. The term “procrustean” comes from his name, meaning an inflexible standard.

Amazonomachy

The Amazonomachy refers to the mythical battle between the Athenians, led by Theseus, and the invading Amazons. It symbolized the struggle between civilization and barbarism. Theseus abducted the Amazon queen Antiopê, sparking the conflict.

Hippolytus

Son of Theseus and the Amazon Antiopê (or Hippolyta), Hippolytus was devoted to chastity and Artemis. When Phaedra falsely accused him of rape, Theseus cursed him, leading to his death. His story was dramatized in Euripides’ Hippolytus.

Phaedra

Wife of Theseus and stepmother to Hippolytus, Phaedra fell in love with him due to a curse by Aphrodite. When he rejected her, she falsely accused him of rape and took her own life. Her story exemplifies themes of passion and tragic misunderstanding.

Bellerophon

Though not central to the Theseus myths, Bellerophon is mentioned as another hero who fought Amazons. He rode the winged horse Pegasus and slew the Chimera. His story parallels Theseus' as a Greek hero performing divine tasks.

Pirithoüs

A close friend of Theseus, Pirithoüs joined him in several adventures, including the failed attempt to abduct Persephonê from the underworld. He was left behind, trapped in Hades, while Theseus was rescued by Heracles. Their friendship symbolizes heroic loyalty.

Lapiths

A Thessalian tribe led by Pirithoüs, the Lapiths are famous for their battle against the Centaurs at a wedding feast. The conflict symbolized the clash between civilization and savagery. Theseus fought on the Lapith side during the Centauromachy.

Centaurs

Half-man, half-horse beings known for their wild behavior and symbolic association with unrestrained violence. At Pirithoüs’ wedding, the Centaurs became drunk and tried to abduct the bride, sparking the Centauromachy. They often served as foils to Greek heroes.

Centauromachy

The Centauromachy was the mythical battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs at a wedding feast. Theseus participated and helped defeat the Centaurs. It became a favorite symbol in Greek art of reason and order defeating savagery.

Pisistratus

A sixth-century BC Athenian ruler who used the myths of Theseus to promote political unity and Athenian greatness. He sponsored festivals and poetry to elevate Theseus as a democratic hero. His propaganda turned Theseus into the cultural symbol of Athens.