Greek Gods and Myths – Theseus and the Minotaur

The Son of King Aegeus Pits Himself against the Half Man-Half Bull

May 8, 2009

One short chapter in Theseus' life filled with exhilarating victory over the Minotaur, joy from Ariadne's love and the bitter pangs of losing her as well as his father.

King Aegeus, though married twice, did not have a successor to his throne. He went to the oracle of Delphi to ask for advice and was told to "take care not to open your wineskin before you reach Athens". Not understanding the obscure advice, he stopped in Troezen and asked the opinion of his friend King Pittheus.

The Parents of Theseus

Whether Pittheus understood the meaning or not, he got Aegeus drunk and arranged for him to sleep with his daughter Aethra. That same night she also slept with the god Poseidon. The child she eventually bore thus came to have two fathers, one mortal and the other a god.

Aegeus had to return in haste to Athens before Theseus was born and Theseus grew up with his mother in Troezen. Read about Theseus' adventures on his return to Athens here.

The Minotaur

Because Minos, the King of Crete displeased Poseidon by not sacrificing the pure white bull that the god had given to him as a sign of his kingship, the god caused Minos' wife, Pasiphae, to desire the bull. She asked Daedalus for help and he fashioned a wooden cow for her to hide in. The bull mated with her and the Minotaur, half-man-half-bull, was born.

In his shame, Minos ordered Daedalus to build a dwelling to hide the bull-man and the Labyrinth was constructed.

The Tribute

According to legend, Minos held the Athenians responsible for the death of his son, Androgeus. He declared war, won and exacted a painful tax - the periodic sacrifice of 7 virgins and 7 youths to the Minotaur. Theseus offered to be one of the youths in order to attempt to slay the Minotaur.

Ariadne's Help

The goddess Aphrodite caused the daughter of Minos to fall in love with Theseus and Ariadne offered to help him with the condition that he take her with him when he left. She gave him a ball of string to unwind in the labyrinth with the end tied at the entrance. Theseus was victorious over the Minotaur, freeing his countrymen from the Cretan levy and with Ariadne's help, regained his own freedom.

Loss of Ariadne

Theseus escaped from Crete with Ariadne but according to one legend, was instructed by the goddess Athena to not continue his voyage with her. He stopped in Naxos on his way back to Athens, but left Ariadne sleeping on the beach when he departed. This is how it came to be that Dionysus found Ariadne on Naxos and made her his wife.

Loss of his Father

Before leaving his homeland, Theseus had promised his father that, on their return, they would signal their success with white sails, or with black for failure. Unfortunately they did not remember to change the sails and Aegeus, anxiously looking out to sea every day, saw the ships returning with black sails. Grieved at the thought that his son was dead, he threw himself in the sea which now bears his name, the Aegean.

Source

The copyright of the article Greek Gods and Myths – Theseus and the Minotaur in Greek History is owned by Beverly Yip. Permission to republish Greek Gods and Myths – Theseus and the Minotaur in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.