CLASS 310 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Modus Operandi, Pittheus, Aegeus
Document Summary
Unlike perseus & heracles who were worshipped all over greece, theseus was solely indigenous to athens. Theseus" myth allowed athens to establish itself. Theseus" story begins with king aegeus, who is unable to have children, more importantly a son, causing dynastic issues as to who will take his place the oracle confuses the king (he doesn"t know how to interpret it) As athenians continue to do today, king aegeus travels to the oracle at delphi. He then travels to troezen to ask king pittheus if he can interpret the message. Pittheus does, deciphering that aegeus must abstain from sex until he returns to athens so the next king will be purely athenian instead of telling this to aegeus, pittheus ensures the next athenian king has. Troezenian blood by getting him drunk and having aethra (pittheus" daughter) seduce him into sex. Poseidon too has sex with aethra that night and a child is conceived w/ two fathers, mortal & immortal.
