Greek Mythology Study Guide: Theseus, Heracles, and Perseus
Theseus
Introduction: Who is Theseus?
Theseus is considered the greatest Athenian hero.
Known for:
Exceptional strength and courage from a young age.
Being the son of two fathers: King Aegeus of Athens and the god Poseidon.
Motto: “Nothing without Theseus”
The Confusing Prophecy and Origin Story
King Aegeus consulted the Oracle because he had no children.
Oracle said: “Do not loosen the bulging mouth of the wineskin until you reach the height of Athens.”
Aegeus visited King Pittheus, who got him drunk and arranged for him to sleep with his daughter Aethra.
That night, Aethra also slept with Poseidon.
Theseus was born, half-mortal, half-god.
Aegeus left a sword and sandals under a boulder. If the boy could lift it, he should be sent to Athens.
Young Theseus Proves Himself
Raised in Troezen.
Lifted the boulder with ease, retrieved the sword and sandals, and traveled to Athens.
Chose the dangerous land route, filled with villains.
The Six Labors of Theseus
Periphetes (The Club-Bearer):
Beat people with a club.
Theseus killed him and took his club.
Sinis (The Pine-Bender):
Killed people with bent trees.
Theseus did the same to him.
Crommyonian Sow:
Giant pig raised by an old woman.
Theseus killed it.
Sciron (The Foot-Washer):
Pushed travelers off a cliff to be eaten by a turtle.
Theseus threw him off instead.
Cercyon (The Wrestler):
Challenged travelers to wrestling.
Theseus beat and killed him.
Procrustes (The Stretcher):
Stretched or cut victims to fit a bed.
Theseus killed him the same way.
Arrival in Athens – Medea’s Schemes
Theseus arrived in Athens, unrecognized by Aegeus.
Medea, Aegeus’s wife, tried to kill him:
First, sent him to kill the Marathonian Bull—he succeeded.
Then tried to poison him at a banquet—Aegeus recognized him in time and stopped it.
Medea fled.
Off to Crete – Hero Mode Activated
Athens had to send 7 boys and 7 girls to be eaten by the Minotaur.
Theseus volunteered to go.
Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, fell in love with Theseus.
She gave him a ball of string (from Daedalus) to escape the Labyrinth.
Theseus vs. The Minotaur
Theseus killed the Minotaur and escaped using the string.
Love, Loss, and Forgetfulness
Promised to marry Ariadne but abandoned her on an island.
Forgot to change the ship's black sail to white on return.
Aegeus, seeing the black sail, thought Theseus was dead and jumped into the sea.
The Aegean Sea is named after him.
Later Life and Death
Became King of Athens.
Adventures included:
Joining the Argonauts.
Marrying an Amazon queen, then Phaedra.
Getting trapped in the Underworld and rescued by Heracles.
Died when King Lycomedes pushed him off a cliff.
Honored by Athenians with a shrine.
Heracles
Who Was Heracles?
Greatest Greek hero.
Mission: rid the world of evil and monsters.
Son of Zeus and a mortal woman.
Famous for the Twelve Labors.
Origin Story
Born in Thebes to Alcmene, wife of Amphitryon.
Zeus disguised himself as Amphitryon and fathered Heracles.
Twin brother: Iphicles.
Enter Hera – Jealousy and Revenge
Hera hated Heracles.
Sent two snakes to his crib.
Heracles strangled them as a baby.
Traits and Personality
Super strong but not very wise.
Killed his music teacher accidentally.
Always sought to make up for his mistakes.
First Loves and First Losses
Killed a lion at 18, wore its skin.
Married Megara and had 2 sons.
Driven mad by Hera, killed his family.
Theseus saved him from suicide and helped him seek redemption.
Hero Boot Camp – The Twelve Labors
Nemean Lion – Skinned with bare hands.
Lernaean Hydra – Burned stumps after cutting heads.
Ceryneian Hind – Captured after a year.
Erymanthian Boar – Captured in mountains.
Augean Stables – Cleaned by diverting rivers.
Stymphalian Birds – Killed with help from Athena.
Cretan Bull – Captured and returned.
Mares of Diomedes – Fed owner to his man-eating horses.
Hippolyta’s Belt – Killed her due to Hera's trick.
Cattle of Geryon – Fought and won.
Golden Apples – Tricked Atlas to get them.
Cerberus – Brought the 3-headed dog from the Underworld.
Side Adventures
Defeated Antaeus by lifting him off the ground.
Had 50 sons in 50 nights (legendary).
Starred in many other myths.
Tragic End
Married Deianira.
A centaur tricked her into giving him a poisoned cloak.
Cloak burned his skin; he built a funeral pyre.
Became a god on Olympus after death.
Perseus
Medusa’s Past
Originally a beautiful maiden in Athena’s temple.
Poseidon assaulted her there.
Athena punished her by turning her hair to snakes and her gaze deadly.
Sisters: Stheno and Euryale (Gorgons).
The Prophecy
King Acrisius of Argos learned his grandson would kill him.
Locked his daughter Danaë in a tower.
Zeus appeared as a golden shower and fathered Perseus.
Perseus’ Birth and Journey
Acrisius put Danaë and Perseus in a chest and threw them in the sea.
Rescued by Dictys on Seriphos.
Dictys’ brother Polydectes wanted Danaë.
Polydectes tricked Perseus into promising Medusa’s head as a gift.
Perseus’ Quest
Helped by Athena and Hermes:
Winged sandals, invisibility helmet, sickle, bag, mirrored shield.
Visited the Graiae (three old sisters) and stole their shared eye and tooth.
Got the gear from the Hesperides.
Victory over Medusa
Used shield to avoid her gaze.
Beheaded her.
Pegasus was born from her neck.
Her blood created snakes in Libya.
Rescue of Andromeda
Saved her from a sea monster.
Married her.
Return Journey and Final Acts
Returned to Seriphos.
Turned Polydectes and his men to stone.
Gave Medusa’s head to Athena (put on her shield).
Went back to Argos and accidentally killed Acrisius with a discus.
Perseus and Andromeda were turned into constellations.