Theseus sucks, actually - Greek Mythology Explained

Summary

This video script recounts the mythological adventures of Theseus, a hero of Athens. It details his early triumphs, including defeating bandits and the Minotaur, and his tragic love affairs with Ariadne and Phaedra. The narrative also covers Theseus' battles, his abduction of Helen, and his eventual downfall, including being pushed off a cliff on the island of Skyros. The story is a blend of heroism, tragedy, and the complex nature of Greek mythology.

Takeaways

• 🗡️ Theseus began his heroic career by clearing the Isthmus of the Saic Gulf of six notorious criminals.
• 🏺 He then killed the Minotaur in Crete with the help of Ariadne, who he promised to marry in return.
• 🌊 On the island of Naxos, Theseus abandoned Ariadne, leading to her either committing suicide or being taken by Dionysus to become his wife.
• 🚢 Forgetting to raise white sails upon his return to Athens, Theseus inadvertently caused his father Aegeus to commit suicide by jumping into the sea.
• ⚔️ Theseus defeated his 50 cousins, the Pallantides, who had plotted to kill him and take the throne of Athens.
• 🏰 As king, Theseus accompanied Heracles on an adventure and kidnapped the Amazonian princess Antiope, who later bore him a son, Hippolytus.
• 🔥 Theseus's marriage to Phaedra ended tragically when she falsely accused Hippolytus of rape, leading to Hippolytus's death and Theseus's banishment of him.
• 🐃 Theseus and Pirithous attempted to abduct Persephone from the Underworld, resulting in their imprisonment until Heracles rescued Theseus.
• 🏹 The death of Hippolytus was a result of a curse from Poseidon, set in motion by Aphrodite as revenge for Hippolytus's scorn of her.
• ⛰️ Theseus met his end on the island of Skyros, where he was betrayed and pushed off a cliff by King Lycomedes.

Q & A

What was Theseus' first heroic act on his journey to Athens?

Theseus' first heroic act was to rid the land of the six most notorious criminals while traveling along the Bandit-infested Saronic Gulf.

How did Theseus free Athens from the subjugation of King Minos?

Theseus slew the Minotaur on the island of Crete, thus freeing Athens from King Minos' subjugation.

What happened to Ariadne after Theseus abandoned her on the island of Naxos?

There are differing accounts of Ariadne's fate. One version has her abandoned by Theseus, leading to her either committing suicide or being taken by Dionysus to become his wife. Another version suggests Dionysus forced Theseus to leave her in a dream, and yet another has her dying in childbirth after Theseus' ship was blown off course by a storm.

What was the consequence of Theseus forgetting to raise white sails on his return to Athens?

Theseus' father, Aegeus, seeing no white sails, believed his son had died and cast himself into the ocean.

How did Theseus become king of Athens after Aegeus' death?

With Aegeus dead, Theseus was the most eligible to inherit the throne of Athens, but he had to defeat his 50 cousins, the Pallantides, who plotted to kill him. Theseus ambushed them, killing them all and securing the throne.

What was the outcome of Theseus' adventure with Heracles into the land of the Amazons?

Theseus kidnapped the Amazonian princess Antiope to make her his queen, and they had a son named Hippolytus.

Why did Theseus' marriage to Phaedra end tragically?

Phaedra fell madly in love with Hippolytus due to Aphrodite's curse, which led to her confessing her unnatural desires and then falsely accusing Hippolytus of assaulting her, resulting in her suicide and Hippolytus' banishment.

How did Theseus and Pirithous plan to claim daughters of Zeus as their wives?

Theseus and Pirithous agreed to help each other claim daughters of Zeus as wives. They went to Sparta where Theseus abducted Helen and then attempted to kidnap Persephone from Hades, which led to their entrapment in the underworld.

What was the final fate of Theseus after his return from the underworld?

Theseus was pushed off a cliff by Lycomedes, the king of the island of Skyros, who feared Theseus or had pledged loyalty to Menestheus, the new king of Athens.

Why did Theseus' reputation as a hero decline towards the end of his life?

Theseus' reputation declined due to a series of unfortunate events and questionable actions, including the abandonment of Ariadne, the death of his father Aegeus, the tragic end of his marriages, the accidental death of Hippolytus, and his eventual violent death on Skyros.