Greek Mythology
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updated 7-24-04

Chapter 15b:  Theseus
pages 402-420
85 points

After the death of Erichthonius come a number of Athenian kings whose names and lineages are often confusing because of the number of characters with the same names.  Because these are not of particular interest to freshman-level students, they are summarized only briefly in the text.

 Theseus' birth is presaged by prophecies from the Delphic Oracle, which would have given him great stature in the eyes of Athenians. Theseus is also an unusual hero, different in many respects from either Perseus or Heracles.  His Labors come quite early in his career, are resolved primarily through brawn rather than brains, and establish theme of the conflict between civilization/order and perversion/chaos that runs through many of his later exploits as well.  He establishes his identity in a way that is echoed centuries later in the Arthurian legends.  His errors often arise through absent-mindedness rather than through a sense of duty (like Perseus) or arrogance (like Heracles).  Finally, his death is ignominious and echoes the theme of poetic justice that runs through many of his early Labors.

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1.  (5) Theseus' early life

  1. What is unusual about his parentage?  

  2. How is he separated from his family and home?

2.  (5) Theseus' young adulthood
         What event signals Theseus' passage into young adulthood?

3.  (15) Theseus' journey

  1. List the six deeds of strength that are usually considered to be the Labors of  Theseus.

  2. Explain in a short paragraph what three elements many of them have in common that  the  Greeks would have considered especially interesting or important.

  3. Why are Theseus' Labors considered a journey rather than a quest?

4.  (10) Theseus' first return home

  1. What are two main reasons why Theseus is not welcomed home with open arms?

  2. What enemy does Theseus make immediately upon his return to Athens?   Why?

  3. What symbolic meaning does the birth of Medus give to the Theseus legend?

  4. What new group of enemies does Theseus defeat?

5.  (10) Theseus' second journey

  1. Reading ahead into Chapter 16 (430 ff), learn about Theseus' encounter with Minos.

  2. Explain two main ways the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur is different from his other exploits.

6.  (10) Theseus' second return home

  1. How does Theseus become king?

  2. What kind of ruler is he?  Supply evidence to support your opinion.

  3. Why doesn't he remain in Athens?

7.  (10) Theseus' third journey--you may find the "Observations" sections useful in answering these.

  1. What is the Amazonomachy and how does it echo the theme of civilization/order vs. perversion/chaos?

  2. Who was Hippolytus and how does his story echo the same theme?

8.  (10) Theseus' and Pirithous

  1. What is unusual about the relationship between Theseus and Pirithous?

  2. What is the Centauromachy?  Explain how it echoes the theme in 7 above.

  3. Why do Theseus and Pirithous go to Hades?  What happens to them there?  

9.  (10) Theseus' death

  1. How is Theseus' death different from  the deaths of Perseus and Heracles?

  2. Do you find it odd that the Greeks didn't change the legend of Theseus's death to some more glorious end?