Theseus Theseus was the son of an Athenian king Aegeus Had to push aside a boulder to get the necessary materials to go seek his father He is the cousin to Hercules Theseus was the hero who slayed the minotaur An adventurous person who went on many expeditions such as the journey to find the Golden Fleece, the Calydonian Hunt, and a journey to Hades to take Persephone to be the bride of his friend Pirithous.

Theseus (Cont.) Theseus was also included in conflict. One example is Aphrodite making his wife, Phaedra, fall in love with her stepson Hippolytus. She killed herself because Hippolytus was not interested and wrote a letter saying Hippolytus had harmed her. Theseus than banished and cursed his son, and Hippolytus later died of a mortal wound. Artemis who Hippolytus worshipped later explained what the situation was and how Aphrodite wanted to make Hippolytus pay for not worshipping her. Theseus later died after Athens banished him for unknown reasons, and was at the court of a “friend” King Lycomedes and was killed for unknown reasons by the king, his friend, and his host. Theseus was later known and honored for his intelligence, honor, courage, and for protecting those who cannot protect themselves.

Theseus and the Minotaur Minos a powerful king of Athens had forced Athens to give up 14 maidens and youths every nine years due to a certain incident. Minos’ son Androgeus was killed after King Aegeus sent him on a perilous journey which a host should never do. Minos then invaded the country and forced Athens to give in to his demands, where they would send sacrifices to the labyrinth an inescapable maze built by Daedalus. The Minotaur a creature half human and half bull and the result of Poseidon punishing Minos by making his wife, Pasiphae, fall in love with a bull. The Minotaur would either emerge from the labyrinth or its victims would frantically run into it.

Theseus and the Minotaur (Cont.) Theseus volunteered himself to be one of the 14 victims even though everyone loved him. Ariadne, the king’s daughter, fell in love with Theseus at first sight as he paraded to the labyrinth. She then gave him a ball of string to help him track his way back to the entrance of the labyrinth. He then made his way to the Minotaur as he was determined to kill the monster, which he did as the monster slept. Theseus, Ariadne, and the others then fled on the boat that brought them. Ariadne was deserted from Theseus being blown by a wind and Theseus forgot to raise the white flag to let his father know that he was safe. Became king after his father, Aegeus, through himself off a ledge. Created a commonwealth as the new king.

Pegasus and Bellerophon Bellerophon was the rumored son of Poseidon and son of Eurynome who was taught by Athena and was a peer of the gods. Bellerophon wanted a Pegasus more than anything and got it when he slept at Athena’s alter. After he accidently killed his brother he went to Proteus the king of Argos to purify himself. After the king’s wife Anteia fell in love with Bellerophon Proteus put him through many difficult tasks such as killing the Chimera. The ease with which he completed these tasks made him ignorant as he wanted to have a place in Olympus, but Pegasus would not take him on the flight. This made Bellerophon hate the gods and he ate his own soul and avoided men until he died. As for pegasus he was given a stable in Olympus where steeds of Zeus were cared for and was most important as he brought Zeus’ thunder and lightning to him.