THESEUS (slayer of the Minotaur, king of Athens)
Hero · legendary king of Athens, son of Aegeus and Aethra; famous for slaying the Minotaur
- Parents
- Aegeus, Poseidon, Aethra
- Consorts
- Helen of Troy, Ariadne, Phaedra, Pirithous, Antiope, Aegle, Hippolyta, Perigune
- Children
- Iphigenia, Hippolytus, Acamas, Melanippus, Demophon of Athens
- Allies
- Heracles
- Foes
- Amazons
- In the sources
- 304 ancient passages
In Godsunder
At the height of their saga. Heroes begin the campaign weaker and grow with every deed.
- Might20
- Grace12
- Vigour18
- Wits18
- Spirit20
- Tier
- 3 · armour 2 · fights as a brute
- Favour
- Poseidon 5
- Mace Smash. Theseus used the mace to cut off necks, heads, and helmets. Euripides, The Suppliants 673-725
- Wrestling Takedown. The teaching of wrestling was established through Theseus. Pausanias 1.39.3
Theseus is identified as the son of Aegeus. Apollodorus 1.8.2 +9 Theseus is a man of noble spirit, a child of a god, and a hero. Odyssey 11 ¶54 +3 Theseus is the grandson of Pittheus. Pausanias 2.30.9 +2
Appearance
Theseus is described as a young, gallant, and unusually handsome king who possessed physical vigor and strength in his youth. Diodorus 4.61 +2 He is described as being similar to the immortal gods in appearance. Pausanias 10.29.10 +1
Powers
He was considered one of the mightiest men ever born on earth, a warrior who combined physical strength with sagacity, and demonstrated prowess, firm spirit, intelligence, and sagacity. Iliad 1 ¶25 +2
In the myths
Theseus killed Sinis, the Pine-bender, on the Isthmus by using the same method Sinis used to kill others, without prior practice or knowledge of the man's specific trap. Apollodorus 3.16.2 +5 Theseus carried off Ariadne and sailed away from Crete unobserved at night. Argonautica 3 ¶80 +5 Theseus slew the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne. Diodorus 4.60 +4 Theseus killed the robber Sciron, an act that some say required expiation because of their family connection. Pausanias 1.3.1 +4 Theseus exiled Hippolytus harshly, ordering him to leave his native land immediately and forbidding him from returning. Euripides, Hippolytus 1060-1101 +4 Heracles rescued Theseus from the underworld and brought him back to the upper world. Apollodorus 2.5.12 +4 Theseus killed the brigand Procrustes, also known as Polypemon, who mutilated travelers to fit them onto a bed near the river Cephisus. Diodorus 4.59 +2 Theseus killed Periphetes, who was thought to be the son of Hephaestus, in Epidaurus after grappling with him and carrying his club to demonstrate its invincibility in his hands. Apollodorus 3.16.1 +2 Medea plotted against Theseus in Athens, advising Aegeus to poison him due to her fear of the city's political factions. Apollodorus 1.9.28 +2 Theseus killed several Centaurs who assaulted the female guests at the wedding banquet. Diodorus 4.70 +2
Worship
Athenians honored Theseus as a demigod, making public vows, drinking wine in his honor, and venerating him in the gymnasium. Ovid Met. 7.402-468 (3) +2
Fate
Heracles' favor allowed Theseus to be released from Hades. Apollodorus 2.5.12 +1 Aidoneus kept Theseus in close confinement, facing an impending death at his hands. Plutarch, Theseus 31.4 +1
