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News
Greek Mythology
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Theseus’ Labours
06-03-2013 17:46Theseus is one of the mythical heroes who has overcome many dangers and succeeded in many glorious tasks. Theseus was the son of Aegeus, king of Athens and Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, king of Troezen and considered one of the most important kings of Athens.
Aegeus, king of Athens, has been twice married but had no heir to his throne. For this reason, he went to Delphi in order to consult the oracle. Aegeus has been advised by the oracle “not to untie the mouth of the wineskin until he arrived at the heights of Athens”. The meaning was so ambiguous that he went to Troezen to consult his wise friend Pittheus. The wise king interpreted the meaning of the oracle right and he introduced his daughter to Aegeus bed, because a son of the king of Athens would be destined for a glorious life.
When Aegeus was about to leave Troizinia and return to Athens, he led Aethra to a huge rock under which he had deposited his sword and sandals. He advised her not to tell their son of his origin until he is old and strong enough to lift this rock. Then he should go to Athens bearing this proof of his father’s identity. So it happened, as young Theseus lifted the rock and set off for Athens. Although, he could go to Athens by sea, Theseus chose the dangerous road between Troezen and Athens.
During his journey he did six labours, claiming rightfully the name of a hero.
1. He killed Periphetes at Epidaurus, who was armed with an iron club, with which he killed all the travellers. Theseus took his club as a trophy of his victory.
2. He confronted Sinis at the Isthmus of Corinth, who was known for killing the travellers by bending a branch of a pine tree and then releasing it suddenly with his victims getting smashed on the ground. Theseus killed him by using the same way.
3. He killed Phaia, the sow of Krommyon, a ferocious beast that had long been a menace to travellers.
4. He killed Scyron, a giant at Megara who fooled the travellers to wash his feet to kick them over the rock into the sea. Theseus hurled him over the cliff as Scyron has done to his victims.
5. When arrived at Eleusis, he wrestled with King Cercyon, who forced all comers to wrestle with him, and killed them. But Theseus overcame the king and slew him.
6. Procrustes (the Stretcher) lined on the banks of the river Cephissus, near Eleusis. He had a bed into which he forced all the strangers to lay. For the tall ones he would cut them to the size of bed, for the short ones he would stretch them to fit the bed. Theseus killed him by serving him the same cruel practice of his own.
The six labours he performed is believed to be six entrances to the Underworld, each guarded by a chthonic enemy. The most known task of Theseus, which surpassed all his other heroic deeds, was the slaying of the Minotaur, the half-man half-bull beast of Crete that was fed with Athenian youths.
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