Theseus, << THEE see uhs or THEE soos, >> was a great king of early Athens in Greek mythology. He was the son of King Aegeus and Aethra, a princess of Troezen. Aegeus left Aethra in Troezen and went back to Athens before Theseus was born. The king put his sword and sandals under a large rock and told Aethra that when their son could lift the rock, he should take the sword and sandals and come to him in Athens.
When Theseus was old enough to lift the rock, he set out for Athens. After he reached Athens, the sorceress Medea, now Aegeus’ wife, tried to poison him. But Aegeus recognized Theseus’ sword and saved his life.
According to the legend, Athens had to send seven youths and seven maidens to Crete every year in those days to be eaten by the Minotaur (see Minotaur). Theseus decided to go as one of the youths and try to kill the Minotaur. With the help of Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos of Crete, he succeeded, and saved his companions. Ariadne left Crete with him, but Theseus deserted her on the way back to Athens.
He had agreed with Aegeus that his ship would fly white sails if he should come back alive. Otherwise, the black sails with which the ship left Athens would not be changed. In his hurry to return home, Theseus forgot to fly white sails. When Aegeus saw black sails on the returning ship, he killed himself in his sorrow, thinking Theseus had perished. Theseus then became the king of Athens.
