Hannah Huckaby, Serra Yigit, Skyler Taggert, Skylar Mathew, Melissa Clarkson

Heroic Qualities and Flaws Determination Loyal Strong Attractive Trustworthy Self-sacraficing Seeks challenges Wise Fair leader brave Excessively violent Overachiever Married Ariadne’s (his dead girlfriend’s) sister Driven to produce heir

Journey/Quests/Tasks (Events) Before Theseus was born, his father left his mother. He left Theseus with the task that when he became a man he was to roll away a large stone revealing a sword and a pair of shoes. He was to then bring the items and come find him. Being the cousin of the infamous Hercules, Theseus wanted to become a well known hero. Therefore, when he set out to Athens to find his father, he went by land because going by water was too “safe and easy”. On his way he killed many bandits and thieves so they wouldn’t “trouble future travelers”(p. 209) Upon his arrival in Athens, Theseus had become a hero for eliminating all of the “banes”. Aegeus, Theseus’ father and King of Athens, didn’t realize that the hero was his own son and plotted to kill him, for he was afraid his popularity would cause him to “win the people over and make him king”(p.210). A woman of sorcery named Medea told the king to invite Theseus to poison him. Luckily Theseus drew his sword before drinking and his father recognized it and proclaimed his son.

Journey/Quests/Tasks (Events) After Theseus had been made known to his father, the ruler of Crete, Minos, invaded and captured Athens. Poseidon, years before had given Minos an heir to sacrifice for him. However, when the Minotaur was born, half bull and half human, Minos didn’t kill it but kept him in a maze, designed by the architect Daedalus that was impossible to escape. Minos said he would release Athens if he was given seven maidens and seven youths to be devoured by the Minotaur. Theseus volunteered to be one of the youth sacrificed, secretly intending to kill the Minotaur. He told his father he would change the black sail on his ship to white to show he had succeeded. In the maze, Theseus searched and found the Minotaur as it was sleeping and “battered the monster to death” with his fists.(p. 213) When Theseus is heading off to the maze Ariadne sees him and immediately falls in love with him. She is concerned for his safety and talks to Daedalus to get him a way out. She convinces Theseus to marry her when they return to Athens in exchange for her help “to bring about his escape” (p. 212).

Journey/Quests/Tasks (Events) Theseus, when heading back to Athens, forgot to change the color of his sail and when his father saw the black sail he jumped off a cliff into the sea. This sea from then on was known as the Aegean Sea. Since his father committed suicide, Theseus was forced to become the king of Athens. Immediately Theseus alters Athens's government, giving the people equality and freedom (democracy). This made Athens “the happiest and most prosperous, the only true home of liberty, the one place in the world where people governed themselves” (p.215) During the “War of the Seven against Thebes”, the Thebans weren’t giving their enemies proper burials. Theseus being “The Perfect Knight” conquered and forced Thebes to bury the Argive dead but didn’t “let his army enter and loot the city” (p.215)

Journey/Quests/Tasks (Events) Due to his “love of danger for the sake of danger” (p.216), Theseus traveled to where to Amazons, women warriors, lived. He took a woman by the name of Hippolyta, who bore Theseus a son named Hippolytus. Her fellow woman warriors came to rescue her through a country around Athens, Attica. They were defeated and from then on as long as Theseus was alive no enemy entered Attica. Theseus also participated in the finding of the Golden Fleece sailing on the Argo as well as helping the king of Calydon hunt down a “terrible boar which was laying waste his country”. On this hunt Theseus saved an old friend Pirithous. After a dispute over who was a better man, the two men “took a solemn oath of friendship” (p.217). At Pirithous’ wedding, Centaurs (half horse, half man) came getting drunk and were taking the women. Theseus, fought and helped to drive them out of the city. However, Pirithous’ wife died and he wanted Persephone. Theseus travels with his friend to the underworld, but Hades knows of their intentions and tricks them into the Chair of Forgetfulness, which of course makes them forget everything. Hercules comes to their rescue and is able to save only Theseus leaving Pirithous in the wretched chair.

Journey/Quests/Tasks (Events) Later on Theseus marries Phaedra, sister of Ariadne. Phaedra falls in love with his son, Hippolytus. Since Hippolytus doesn’t return her love, she kills herself and writes a letter blaming it on him. Theseus reads the letter, curses his son, and exiles Hippolytus. Artemis soon reveals the truth saying Phaedra’s death wasn’t Hippolytus’ fault. Theseus feels guilt and remorse towards his son, but it unable to save him from the curse he bestowed. After his son’s death, Theseus visits his friend, King Lycomedes, who mysteriously kills him.

Motifs and Themes Motif: Forbidden Love: Phaedra wants to be with Hippolytus, even though it is extremely wrong. Motif: Karma: Pirithous goes to the underworld to rape Persephone, and he ends up stuck in the Chair of Forgetfulness forever. Theme: What goes around comes back around: Phaedra, wife of Theseus, falls in love with his son Hippolytus and Hippolytus scorned Aphrodite so to get back at him she makes Phaedra fall in love with him.

Major Archetypes Theseus is the hero archetype in the story. He is known for his dashing good looks, his bravery and determination, and his leadership skills. The sea, that Theseus had to travel by, was an archetype which represents the unknown because Theseus was unaware of how dangerous this trip across the sea would be. It also is an archetype for life, and it represents his departure from his old life to his new life. The oak tree described in song in the myth is an archetypal figure meaninglife. The oak tree falls down, which symbolizes the fall of life, or death.

Major Archetypes Islands represent isolation, which was where Theseus’ ex fiance died when Theseus was lost at sea. Theseus is involved in The War of the Seven against Thebes. 7 is the most potent number. Hades could have the archetype as the villain because he trapped Theseus and Pirithous for a long time, until Hercules rescued them. Hercules could also be seen as a hero in the story. Phaedra is an unfaithful wife for having strong feelings of love for someone other than her husband. Hippolytus always scorned Aphrodite, therefore Aphrodite gave him bad luck when it came to love through supernatural intervention.

Lessons or Cultural Values in Story Theseus’ story is much more human and realistic than most Greek myths. It shows the positive parts of humanity such as loyalty, hospitality, and nobility. This is why he was known as the “perfect knight” and his father committed suicide when he believed him to be dead. He led society to democracy and was a great man who showed bravery and heroism with human abilities.