Theseus (Profiles in Greek and Roman Mythology)

The ancient Greeks worshiped a complex group of deities, weaving their characters into timeless tales of love, heroism, and intrigue. Plays, poems, paintings, and sculptures commemorating these tales have survived for centuries. Even as world religions and scientific knowledge have evolved, bringing with them new beliefs and understanding of the world, the ancient Greek tales continue to provide a basic foundation for Western thought and sharp insight to the human psyche. Among the legendary heroes of ancient Greece was the great warrior Theseus. Growing up in the Greek village Troezen, he did not know his father was Aegeus, King of Athens. When he was sixteen, Theseus learned the truth of his birth and set out to find his father. Along the way he encountered giants and robbers and killers and defeated them all. Once he reached Athens, he volunteered to venture into the labyrinth of the Minotaur and killed the monster. After Aegeus death, Theseus took over the throne. He united the different communities of Attica and made them all Athenians. Because of his vision, Athens became the greatest of the Greek city-states and the cradle of modern democracy.