(7) Theseus And The Minotaur Flashcards
Why is the Minotaur even a thing ?
As a consequence for the death of his son Minis the king of Crete demanded that 7 boys and girls be sent from Athens to Crete as a sacrifice to the Minotaur
Those chosen where picked via a lot and Theseus actually volunteered to be picked
When Theseus arrived in Crete who did he meet ?
Ariadne daughter of Minos
What happened between him and Ariadne ?
They fell in love and Ariadne gave him a ball of wool so he wouldn’t get lost and a sword to kill it
How is this depicted in the Kylix ?
Theseus with sword in hand drags the body of the Minotaur
What happened after he defeated the Minotaur ?
Him and Ariadne ran off and boarded a ship to return to Athens but Theseus left Ariadne in the island of Naxos before returning to Athens
What are some version of the myth between him and Ariadne ?
- She was pregnant with his child and while they rested on Naxos Theseus tried to secure a ship but was wept away by a storm and the women of Naxos helped Ariadne give birth and raise the child
- Theseus fell in love with another woman and abandoned Ariadne
- Athena came to Theseus in a dream and told him Dionysus had chosen Ariadne and Theseus was to leave her on Naxos so she could be with the god
What happens as Theseus returns home ?
He forgot to change the balck sail do grief and replace it with a white sail signifying he was safe
Aegeus saw ur and believed he was dead and threw himself to his death from the city walls
How did Theseus react to his fathers death ?
Deeply upset and honoured his father with a state burial and sacrifices
