Theseus (Greek) Flashcards
Who is Theseus’ parents
Aegeus and Aethra and Poseidon
Retell the story of Theseus’ birth
-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.
Which hero was Theseus related to
Heracles
Which city is Theseus the hero of, and what kind of hero was he
Hero of Athens, an ionic hero
Name Theseus’ 7 labours
- Periphetes
- Sinis
- Crommyonian Sow
- Sciron
- Cecryon
- Procrustes
- The bull of Marathon
What famous object depicts the labours of Thesues
The Kylix
What is the Kylix
A wine cup
What labours are depicted on the Kylix
All the labours except for the first, Periphetes
What else is depicted on the Kylix other than the labours of Thesues
Theseus and the Minotaur in the labyrinth of Crete
What is a minotaur
Half man half bull
Describe the first labour of Theseus
-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
Describe the second labour of Theseus
-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
Describe the third labour of Theseus
-Crommyonian sow
-Referred to a female thief on account of her beast-like behaviour.
-In both myths Theseus killed the sow for glory
Describe the fourth labour of Theseus
-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
Describe the fifth labour of Theseus
-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
Describe the sixth labour of Theseus
-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
Describe the seventh labour of Theseus
-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
What happened after Theseus defeated Sinis
After Theseus courted his daughter Perigune and they had a son called Melanippus
What was the witch that tried to kill Theseus called
Medea
What was under the rock Theseus had to lift at 18
A sword and sandals
Who was the King of Crete
King Minos
What did King Minos request to be tribute from Athens
7 athenian boys and 7 girls
What would happen to the tributes in Crete
They would be sacrificed to the minotaur in the labyrinth
What did Theseus decide to do when he heard about the tributes
He volunteered to be a tribute to the minotaur
What did King Aegeus tell Theseus to do if he survived
Put up a white sail if he survived or a black sail if he died
Who helped Theseus in Crete
Princess Ariadne(King Minos’ daughter)
What did Ariadne give to Theseus
A sword and a yarn of wool
What happened in the labirynth
Theseus kills the minotaur with a single blow
What do Theseus and Ariadne decide to do after they defeat the minotaur
They leave Crete together
Who appears to Theseus and what does she tell him to do
Athena appears to Theseus and tells him to abandon Ariadne on the island of Naxon because she belonged to Dionysus
Why does King Aegeus jump off the cliff when he sees the ship that Theseus was on
Theseus forgets to change the sail so it is still black. Aegeus thinks Theseus is dead so he kills himself
What happens after King Aegeus’ death
Theseus becomes king of Attica
What was Theseus’ biggest change during his reign
He united different polis’ and created a democracy where they could vote for their leaders
What games did Theseus introduce and what did it represent
He introduced the Panathenaic games where all Athenians could compete and represent their old tribes
What did Plutarch describe about Theseus that shows his greatness of deeds
-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
What was Theseus’ leadership like
(according to Plutarch)
-Favours the people
-Surrenders his power as a king(democracy)
-Result of easiness and goodwill
What were Theseus’ reasons for misfortune
(according to Plutarch)
Love and jealousy of his son; Theseus exiles him and curses him on Poseidons name
Who was Theseus’ son
Acanas
What were Theseus’ achievements
(according to Plutarch)
-Uniting many polis’ and created democracy
-However he destroyed many cities and stripped culture off people
What was Theseus’ relationship to his family like
(according to Plutarch)
Theseus was careless and negligent, leading to the death of his father (parricide)
What was Theseus’ relationship to women and gods like
(according to Plutarch)
-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
