Theseus: Birth Flashcards
Why was King Aegsus at Delphi and what did he do on his way home?
- Asked the Delphic oracle how to get an heir
- In his way home he went to a small city in the south west of Athens and asked to interpret the oracles riddling response
Who did Aegeus meet at Trozen, the small town, and what did he do ?
- He met King pittheus
- Pittheus realised the next time Aegeus had sex he would convince a son so he got him drunk and made him sleep with his daughter Aethra
What did Aethra see in a dream the same night she slept with Aegeus ?
Athena telling her to wade to the island of Sphaieia and lay on the shore
What happened when Aethra followed Athena’s orders ?
When she made it to the shore she lay there and Poseidon emerged from the sea and coupled with her so now the child had both human and godly characteristics
Who where Theseus’ parents ?
King Aegeus
Princess Aethra
Poseidon
Would did Aegeus do after Theseus was born ?
Worried that Theseus’ cousins in Athens may be jealous and try to kill him, the king left Aerthra in Troezen
Before King Aegeus left what did he do ?
Placed his sandals and sword under a rock and told Aethra that if her son was worthy to be the heir he would lift the rock and bring the contents back to him
When Theseus came of age what happened?
Led by Aethra, she told him of his true parentage then was asked to lift the rock
He put it with easy onto his shoulder and retrieved the items
What where the two ways to Athens ?
Easiest: by boat, both Aethra and Pittheus begged him to take this route
Hardest: by land, full of peril contains villains and monsters
What did Pittheus tell Theseus ?
Some of the creatures he may encounter fought Hercules but others hid from him
Important as we get hits foreshadowing comparison between the two
How was Hercules related to Theseus ?
He was his cousin and therefore Theseus longed to be like him
