Foundation Stories Athens

What probems are there with foundation stories? (3)

1 written well after founding 2 different versions 3 written by the wealthy

What purpose did foundation stories have?

gave a sense of unity and patriotism

Where was the story of the naming of Athens sculpted?

the western pediment of the Parthenon

Which king was supposed to have founded Athens?

Cecrops

Who competed to be patron of Athens? (2)

1 Athena 2 Poseidon

What did Poseidon do? (2)

1 Struck the Acropolis with his trident 2 creating a sea water spring

What did Athena do? (1)

She planted an olive tree

Who judged the contest? (2)

1 Zeus 2 Cecrops

What was the problem with Poseidon's gift?

Salt water was unusable

What was good about Athena's gift? (2)

1 The olive provided food 2 and oil

What role did Theseus have in Attica?

He united Attica under Athens

Who was Theseus' father?

Aegeus

Who was king of Troezen?

King Pittheus

Why did Aegeus visit Troezen?

To have an oracle of Delphi interpreted by Pittheus

What was Aegeus keen to get?

An heir

What did Pittheus realise?

The next lady Aegeus slept with would produce a son

What did Pittheus do? (2)

1 Got Aegeus drunk 2 and got him to sleep with Aethra, the king's daughter

What message did Aethra receive that night?

Swim to the island of Sphairia

What happened to Aethra on Sphairia?

She slept with Poseidon

What did Aegeus do before he left Troezen? (2)

1 He left sandals and sword 2 under a rock

What did Aegeus tell Aethra?

When Theseus could left the rock, he should come to Athens

What two ways were there to Athens for Theseus? (2)

1 By boat (easy) 2 by land (hard)

Who did Theseus want to copy?

Heracles

What is the evidence for Theseus' labours?

A drinking cup

What seven labours are shown on the drinking cup?

1 Sinis 2 Sow of Crommyon 3 Sciron 4 Cercyon 5 Procrustes 6 Bull of Marathon 7 the Minotaur

What did Sinis used to do? (2)

1 Tie people to two pines 2 tear them to pieces

What did Sciron used to do?

1 Ask people to wash his feet 2 kick them into the sea 3 they were eaten by a giant turtle

What did Cercyon used to do? (2)

1 Wrestle people 2 to see who would be king of Eleusis

What did Procrustes do? (3)

1 Invite people to stay the night in his bed 2 if too small, he stretched them 3 if too long, he chopped off their feet and head

Who tried to kill Theseus in Athens? (2)

1 Medea 2 Aegeus' new wife

What labour did Medea arrange for Theseus to do?

Defeat the bull of Marathon

Who had brought this bull to Attica?

Heracles

How did Medea later try to kill Theseus? (2)

1 She put poison in his cup 2 at a sacrifice

How was Theseus saved?

Aegeus recognised the sword

Why did Athens send seven boys and seven girls to Crete each year?

Minos' son Androgeus had been killed in Attica

What did Theseus volunteer to do?

Travel to Crete

Who helped Theseus?

Ariadne, daughter of Minos

What did Ariadne give Theseus? (2)

1 A ball of wool, to avoid getting lost in the labyrinth 2 A sword to kill the Minotaur

What happened to Ariadne on the way to Athens? (2)

1 She was left behind on Naxos 2 Dionysos fell in love with her

What did Theseus forget to do?

Change his black sail to white

What did Aegeus do when he saw the black sail?

Threw himself from the city walls into the sea

What benefits did Theseus bring to Athens? (4)

1 He united Attica 2 he made Athens the centre of political power 3 he established democracy 4 He started the Panathenaic Games

What did Theseus do as a demigod at Marathon?

Ran in front of the forces of Athens against the Persians

What did Theseus' tomb become in Athens?

A place of refuge for runaway slaves