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OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation Myth and Religion > Theseus (Greek) > Flashcards

Theseus (Greek) Flashcards

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1
Q

Who is Theseus’ parents

A

Aegeus and Aethra and Poseidon

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1
Q

Retell the story of Theseus’ birth

A

-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.

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2
Q

Which hero was Theseus related to

A

Heracles

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3
Q

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

A

Hero of Athens, an ionic hero

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4
Q

Name Theseus’ 7 labours

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

What famous object depicts the labours of Thesues

A

The Kylix

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6
Q

What is the Kylix

A

A wine cup

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7
Q

What labours are depicted on the Kylix

A

All the labours except for the first, Periphetes

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8
Q

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

A

Theseus and the Minotaur in the labyrinth of Crete

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9
Q

What is a minotaur

A

Half man half bull

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10
Q

Describe the first labour of Theseus

A

-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

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11
Q

Describe the second labour of Theseus

A

-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

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12
Q

Describe the third labour of Theseus

A

-Crommyonian sow

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

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13
Q

Describe the fourth labour of Theseus

A

-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

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14
Q

Describe the fifth labour of Theseus

A

-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

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15
Q

Describe the sixth labour of Theseus

A

-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

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16
Q

Describe the seventh labour of Theseus

A

-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

17
Q

What happened after Theseus defeated Sinis

A

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

18
Q

What was the witch that tried to kill Theseus called

A

Medea

19
Q

What was under the rock Theseus had to lift at 18

A

A sword and sandals

20
Q

Who was the King of Crete

A

King Minos

21
Q

What did King Minos request to be tribute from Athens

A

7 athenian boys and 7 girls

22
Q

What would happen to the tributes in Crete

A

They would be sacrificed to the minotaur in the labyrinth

23
Q

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

A

He volunteered to be a tribute to the minotaur

24
Q

What did King Aegeus tell Theseus to do if he survived

A

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

25
Q

Who helped Theseus in Crete

A

Princess Ariadne(King Minos’ daughter)

26
Q

What did Ariadne give to Theseus

A

A sword and a yarn of wool

27
Q

What happened in the labirynth

A

Theseus kills the minotaur with a single blow

28
Q

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

A

They leave Crete together

29
Q

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

A

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

30
Q

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

A

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

31
Q

What happens after King Aegeus’ death

A

Theseus becomes king of Attica

32
Q

What was Theseus’ biggest change during his reign

A

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

33
Q

What games did Theseus introduce and what did it represent

A

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

34
Q

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

A

-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

35
Q

What was Theseus’ leadership like
(according to Plutarch)

A

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

36
Q

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

A

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

37
Q

Who was Theseus’ son

A

Acanas

38
Q

What were Theseus’ achievements
(according to Plutarch)

A

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

39
Q

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

A

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

40
Q

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

A

-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

OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation Myth and Religion (20 decks)

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