Theseus

Theseus, the great legendary hero of Attica, son of Ægeus, king of Athens, by Æthra, daughter of Pittheus, king of Troezen, at whose court he was brought up. On reaching manhood he proceeded to Athens, and was recognised by Ægeus as his son and successor. He captured the Marathonian bull, and next delivered Athens from its dreadful tribute of youths and maidens to the Cretan Minotaur, aided by the Cretan princess, Ariadne. When king he consolidated the twelve petty commonwealths of Attica into one state, reorganised the Pan-Athenaic festival, and founded the Isthmian games. He fought the Amazons, and carried off their queen, Antiope or Hippolyta, and after her death married Phœdra. Further legends make him take part in the Argonautic expedition, join in the Calydonian hunt, help Peirithous and the Lapithæ against the Centaurs, and join in the attempt to rescue Proserpine from the lower world—an act of monstrous audacity for which he was kept there in close imprisonment till delivered by Hercules. Returning to Athens, he failed to re-establish his authority, and withdrew to Scyros, where he was treacherously destroyed by King Lycomedes; but his shade appeared to aid the Athenians in the fight at Marathon. See ÆGEUS, ARIADNE, MINOTAUR.