Theseus (Greek)

Question 1

Who is Theseus’ parents

Answer 1

Aegeus and Aethra and Poseidon

Question 1

Retell the story of Theseus’ birth

Answer 1

-Aegeus goes to oracle at Delphi but does not understand, so he goes to Pitthus
-Pitthus tricks him into having a baby with his daughter, Aethra
-Aethra gets a vision from Athena to go to island of Spheiria
-Poseidon has sex with Aethra so the baby would have godlike attributes
-Aethra goes back to Troezen where Theseus is born
-Athena tells Theseus to go back to Athens when he is 18.

Question 2

Which hero was Theseus related to

Answer 2

Heracles

Question 3

Which city is Theseus the hero of, and what kind of hero was he

Answer 3

Hero of Athens, an ionic hero

Question 4

Name Theseus’ 7 labours

Answer 4

1. Periphetes
2. Sinis
3. Crommyonian Sow
4. Sciron
5. Cecryon
6. Procrustes
7. The bull of Marathon

Question 5

What famous object depicts the labours of Thesues

Answer 5

The Kylix

Question 6

What is the Kylix

Answer 6

A wine cup

Question 7

What labours are depicted on the Kylix

Answer 7

All the labours except for the first, Periphetes

Question 8

What else is depicted on the Kylix other than the labours of Thesues

Answer 8

Theseus and the Minotaur in the labyrinth of Crete

Question 9

What is a minotaur

Answer 9

Half man half bull

Question 10

Describe the first labour of Theseus

Answer 10

-Periphetes the club bearer

-Would hide on side of road, jump and beat travellers to death with his club
-Theseus spotted him before he could attack, grappled him and then beat him with his own club
-As a prize Theseus took the club and used it in his subsequent labours

Question 11

Describe the second labour of Theseus

Answer 11

-Sinis the pine bender

-Sinis was a road robber who tied his victims to the ends of bent pine trees and released them tearing them to pieces
-Theseus tricked Sinis, flinging him using his own trap

Question 12

Describe the third labour of Theseus

Answer 12

-Crommyonian sow

-Referred to a female thief on account of her beast-like behaviour.
-In both myths Theseus killed the sow for glory

Question 13

Describe the fourth labour of Theseus

Answer 13

-Sciron

-Old man who sat on a path by the cliffs edge
-Would ask people to wash his feet and kick them into the sea
-They would be consumed by a giant turtle
-Theseus caught him by the feet and threw him off the cliff

Question 14

Describe the fifth labour of Theseus

Answer 14

-Cercyon

-Theseus arrives at Eleusis which is ruled by Cercyon
-Cercyon challenged travellers to a wrestling match
-Theseus outmatched him and became king of Eleusis

Question 15

Describe the sixth labour of Theseus

Answer 15

-Procrustes

-Invited visitors to lay on a magical bed that fit anyone
-If they were too small, he would use a mallet and stretch them out.
If they were too tall, he would use an axe to chop off their hands and feet
-Theseus made Procrustes lay on the bed and he chopped off his head

Question 16

Describe the seventh labour of Theseus

Answer 16

-The bull of Marathon(Theseus in Athens)

-Theseus arrives in Athens and found his father under control of witch Medea
-Medea convinced Aegeas that Theseus was a threat
-She made Theseus prove his heroism by defeating bull of Marathon that terrorised Athens
-Theseus easily masters bull and marches it to Athens before sacrificing it

Question 17

What happened after Theseus defeated Sinis

Answer 17

After Theseus courted his daughter Perigune and they had a son called Melanippus

Question 18

What was the witch that tried to kill Theseus called

Answer 18

Medea

Question 19

What was under the rock Theseus had to lift at 18

Answer 19

A sword and sandals

Question 20

Who was the King of Crete

Answer 20

King Minos

Question 21

What did King Minos request to be tribute from Athens

Answer 21

7 athenian boys and 7 girls

Question 22

What would happen to the tributes in Crete

Answer 22

They would be sacrificed to the minotaur in the labyrinth

Question 23

What did Theseus decide to do when he heard about the tributes

Answer 23

He volunteered to be a tribute to the minotaur

Question 24

What did King Aegeus tell Theseus to do if he survived

Answer 24

Put up a white sail if he survived or a black sail if he died

Question 25

Who helped Theseus in Crete

Answer 25

Princess Ariadne(King Minos' daughter)

Question 26

What did Ariadne give to Theseus

Answer 26

A sword and a yarn of wool

Question 27

What happened in the labirynth

Answer 27

Theseus kills the minotaur with a single blow

Question 28

What do Theseus and Ariadne decide to do after they defeat the minotaur

Answer 28

They leave Crete together

Question 29

Who appears to Theseus and what does she tell him to do

Answer 29

Athena appears to Theseus and tells him to abandon Ariadne on the island of Naxon because she belonged to Dionysus

Question 30

Why does King Aegeus jump off the cliff when he sees the ship that Theseus was on

Answer 30

Theseus forgets to change the sail so it is still black. Aegeus thinks Theseus is dead so he kills himself

Question 31

What happens after King Aegeus' death

Answer 31

Theseus becomes king of Attica

Question 32

What was Theseus' biggest change during his reign

Answer 32

He united different polis' and created a democracy where they could vote for their leaders

Question 33

What games did Theseus introduce and what did it represent

Answer 33

He introduced the Panathenaic games where all Athenians could compete and represent their old tribes

Question 34

What did Plutarch describe about Theseus that shows his greatness of deeds

Answer 34

-He inherited considerably glorious power -He wanted kleos for himself, set out for glory and justice in his labours -He was a hero for many and helped others -Defeats minotaur with help from Ariadne

Question 35

What was Theseus' leadership like (according to Plutarch)

Answer 35

-Favours the people -Surrenders his power as a king(democracy) -Result of easiness and goodwill

Question 36

What were Theseus' reasons for misfortune (according to Plutarch)

Answer 36

Love and jealousy of his son; Theseus exiles him and curses him on Poseidons name

Question 37

Who was Theseus' son

Answer 37

Acanas

Question 38

What were Theseus' achievements (according to Plutarch)

Answer 38

-Uniting many polis' and created democracy -However he destroyed many cities and stripped culture off people

Question 39

What was Theseus' relationship to his family like (according to Plutarch)

Answer 39

Theseus was careless and negligent, leading to the death of his father (parricide)

Question 40

What was Theseus' relationship to women and gods like (according to Plutarch)

Answer 40

-Many crimes of Theseus raping women -Pursuit of pleasure out of lust and hedonism -The oracle given to Aegeus suggested that it was against the wishes of the gods for Theseus to be born