Chapter 16 Lecture Two of Two Theseus ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

THE BEGETTING OF THESEUS ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

The Begetting of Theseus Aegeus, a king of Athens, had no sons Delphi: do not open the wine skins until you return home At Troezen, Pittheus understands the prophecy Sends his daughter Aethra Poseidon also gets involved ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

The Begetting of Theseus The sword and the sandal (Fig. 16.6). ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. (© Trustees of the British Museum / Art Resource, New York

THE LABORS OF THESEUS ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Fig The Labors of Theseus ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. (© Trustees of the British Museum / Art Resource, New York

©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

The Labors of Theseus 1.Periphetes, the Clubber 2.Sinis, the Pinebender 3.Cormmyonian Sow 4.Sciron 5.Circyon 6.Procrustes ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

ARRIVAL AT ATHENS ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Arrival at Athens Under a spell cast by Medea, Aegeus doesn’t realize that this is his son Aegeus sends him out to kill a bull on the plains of Marathon Then she tries to poison him, but Aegeus recognizes his own sword in time – Medea flees ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Fig Theseus and the bull of Marathon. ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Fig Aegeus greets Theseus in Athens. ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Musée du Louvre, Paris; Réunion des Musées Nationaux/Art Resource, New York

THESEUS AND ANTIOPÊ ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Theseus and Antiopê On his way back from his adventure in Crete with the Minotaur (Chapter 17), Theseus forgets to change the ship’s flag to white Aegeus drowns himself in the sea (Aegean Sea) ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Theseus and Antiopê Athens is “founded” again with Theseus’s wise reforms – Synoicism – Festival: Panathenaia – social reforms: classes – assembly ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Theseus and Antiopê Goes off in search of more adventure – Abducts the Queen of the Amazons: Hippolyta or Antiopê Leads to an Amazonomachy in Athens – The Areopagus ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

PERSPECTIVES The Amazons ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

The Amazons Mythic homeland is north of the Black Sea (southern modern-day Russia) – a mazos ? – constructed the temple to Artemis at Ephesus? A purely myth invention – the world turned upside down ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

The Amazons Contrary to the ideal for the Athenian woman – Always defeated by Greek heroes Given political significance after the Battle of Marathon – The Amazonomachy identified with the Athenian victory over the Persians ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Fig Theseus and Perithous battle a mounted Amazon. ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Museo Etrusco Gregoriano/Photo Vatican Museums

THESEUS AND HIPPOLYTUS ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Theseus and Hippolytus Remarries to Phaedra, a daughter of Minos Their son is Hippolytus Story told by Euripides in his Hippolytus Hippolytus worships only Artemis and neglects Aphrodite Aphrodite makes Phaedra, his mother-in-law, lust after him ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Theseus and Hippolytus The slave intermediary Hippolytus curses women, but vows not to tell anyone Phaedra kills herself, but leaves behind a note for Theseus Theseus orders Poseidon to kill Hippolytus ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Perspective 16 In Boccaccio's De casibus virorum illustrium, Phaedra admits how she falsely accused Hippolytus. ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. (© British Library Board. All Rights Reserved. Harley 1766, f.39

OBSERVATIONS Folktale of “Potiphar’s Wife" ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Folktale of “Potiphar’s Wife" Story of the Two Brothers – Anubis (not the god) – Bata Joseph and Potiphar’s wife Bellerophon and the wife of King Proteus ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

EXPLOITS OF THESEUS AND PIRITHOÜS ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Exploits of Theseus and Pirithoüs The Battle of the Centaurs and the Lapiths (at Perithoüs’s wedding to a Hippodamia) Caeneus (formerly Caenis) The two now seek appropriate wives ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Exploits of Theseus and Pirithoüs Theseus tries for Helen, but she is too young and is sent away for safekeeping The two visit the underworld for Pirithoüs’s choice: Persephonê They are trapped but Theseus is eventually rescued by Heracles ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Fig Heracles and Theseus ©2012 Pearson Education Inc. Johannes Laurentius/Bildarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz/Art Resource, New York

DEATH OF THESEUS ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Death of Theseus Lost favor of the people of Athens and expelled by Menestheus of Athens Fled to Scyros, King Lycomedes Killed by the king ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

OBSERVATIONS Myth and Propaganda ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Myth and Propaganda Theseus originally a minor figure Becomes more important with the rise of Athens beginning in the 6 th century – Theseïs Expansion and popularization begins with Pisistratus – Uses Theseus to glorify his own accomplishments for the city ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

Myth and Propaganda After the Pisistratid dynasty fell from popularity, Theseus remade again – To a hero of democracy and the defender of freedom Cimon (son of Miltiades) – Modeled some of his career leading the Athenian rise to empire after Theseus – The “bones” of Theseus; new festivals to Theseus; leader of Ionian Greeks against Sparta ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.

End ©2012 Pearson Education Inc.