CMLT316 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Skyros, Isthmian Games, Pirithous
3 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Class 16: Heroes of Athens - Theseus
Erechtheus
● Grandson of Erichthonius
● Apparently fully human
● Under attack from the Eleusinians, he sacrificed his daughter to protect Athens
● Killed by Poseidon for killing the god’s son, the Thracian Eumolpos
Theseus
● The Athenian George Washington
● Son of Aegeus and Aethra
○ Aegeus unable to produce male heir; consults oracle at Delphi (travels to
Troezen, gets drunk and spends the night w Aethra - Theseus produced)
○ Theseus’ identity hidden from him
○ First test of strength - lift up the rock covering his fathers gifts: a sword and
sandals
○ Leaves Troezen to claim his rightful place in Athens
● His six labors
○ Theseus and Periphetes: Club bearer
■ Robber
○ Theseus and Sinis (Pithocampes): The “pine bender”
■ Robber
○ Theseus and monster sow (Phaea)
■ Beast
○ Theseus and Sciron: Foot washing guy
■ Local hero
■ Robber
○ Theseus and Cercyon: the wrestler
■ Local hero of Eleusis
■ robber
○ Theseus and Procrustes: the psycho
■ Serial killer ?
Theseus and the Minotaur
● The birth of the Minotaur
○ Minos prayed to Poseidon for bull to sacrifice
○ Pasiphae made to lust for the bull
○ Daedalus developed a way for Pasiphae to satisfy her desires
○ The unnatural union produces the Minotaur
● Palace at Knossos
● Theseus assisted by Ariadne
○ Abandons her on Naxos
● Returns to Athens (Aegeus’ death)
○ Theseus to put up a white sail on his ship if it’s successful
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Under attack from the eleusinians, he sacrificed his daughter to protect athens. Killed by poseidon for killing the god"s son, the thracian eumolpos. Aegeus unable to produce male heir; consults oracle at delphi (travels to. Troezen, gets drunk and spends the night w aethra - theseus produced) First test of strength - lift up the rock covering his fathers gifts: a sword and sandals. Leaves troezen to claim his rightful place in athens. Theseus and sinis (pithocampes): the pine bender . Minos prayed to poseidon for bull to sacrifice. Pasiphae made to lust for the bull. Daedalus developed a way for pasiphae to satisfy her desires. Theseus to put up a white sail on his ship if it"s successful. He forgets and his father thinks that his son has been killed. Takes amazon queen antiope as concubine (producing hippolytus) Unifies attica - region of athens (synoecism) Establishes isthmian games (heracles founded olympic games)
