The Tragedy Of Theseus, The King Of Herakles

In ancient Greece, Theseus would be considered a hero because he was courageous while also being kind. Even as a small child, Theseus showed great courage. For example, when he was a young boy and was looking for his father, he chose travel by land instead of by sea because the land was more dangerous. The land was more dangerous because there were many bandits along the way, but Theseus wanted to become a hero as quickly as possible, so he traveled by land and killed every bandit along the way. Greeks would have valued this courage because in ancient Greece, people greatly admired brave and powerful heroes who wouldn't back down from any challenge. Although Theseus was brave, he was also kind to others. This is why he convinced Hercules not to kill himself after he murdered his family under the influence of Hera. Many other people would’ve agreed with Hercules ending his own life for what he’d done, but Theseus knew that it wasn’t his fault, and that suicide was not the right way. The ancient greeks would have valued this because ancient greece was a violent and dangerous, so someone who was kind and gentle and was also strong was person to be respected.

Now Theseus is older and is in his father’s palace in Athens, the fame seeking youth decided to set his sights on a new journey. A journey which would lead to him being loved and remembered by all the people of Athens. During this time Athens had a severe problem, the neighboring island Crete would attack them every so often. The king of Athens decided to try and compromise with Crete. He stated if Crete left Athens alone for nine years they would send fourteen Athenian youths seven male and seven females as a sacrifice to Minos to be fed to the Minotaur king Minos pet. The king of Athens goal was to build a strong navy, so they could defend themselves from Crete. Surprisingly the king of Crete Mino kept his word and never attacked Athens. Now nine years had come, and it was Athens turn to keep their word. The king of Athens was conflicted as he knew the value of keeping one's word. Theseus seeing this as the perfect opportunity to earn new fame and liken his image in Athens volunteered as the seventh male Athenian youth. Theseus’s goal is to slay the Minotaur and save his fellow Athenians. Theseus promises his father, he will return alive and when he does, he will change the color of the sail on the ship from white to black. In the event the sails stay black his father should assume Theseus has met his demise. After the Athenians arrive in Crete they are welcomed by King Mino’s and princess Ariadne, upon seeing

The Greek drama “Oedipus The King” evidently leads to the unveiling of a tragedy. Oedipus, the protagonist of the play uncovers his tragic birth story and the curse he had been baring his whole life. Oedipus is notorious for his personal insight that helped him defeat Sphinx, which lead him to becoming the king of Thebes. He is admired by the people of Thebes and is considered to be a mature, inelegant and a rational leader. From his birth, his story began with a prophecy that Oedipus would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. Through out the play numerous people, who tell him of his unknown past, visit Oedipus. Blind to the truth he casts them away until a blind man named Therisis gives a sight of truth to Oedipus. As Oedipus learns the truth he realizes the great evil his life carries. After finding his wife and also mother hung in her bedroom, Oedipus blinds himself with the gold pins that held Jocasta’s robe. Oedipus blind to the truth is finally able to see when the old blind man visits him and tells him the truth about his life. Both metaphorically and physically sight plays a significant role in understanding the irony of a blind man seeing the truth while Oedipus who isn’t blind doesn’t seem to the truth that’s right in front of him.

If compared to Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey theory, Theseus is considered a mythological hero; however, not in a historical manner in which he is often accredited.

He trains them, strengthening their skill and power. He shows his true leadership, becoming a sort of teacher to them. When they arrive at Knossos, he tries to convince King Minos to let the tributes go. He is not only thinking for himself, but for his people. Minos refuses, but Theseus is still set on fighting the bull, not for the glory now, but so others will not have to be killed. His mindset has practically switched, instead of being self-pitying, he is now selfless. Theseus successfully slays the Minotaur, and takes his tributes and the two of Minos’ daughters home. He is so happy, “drunk with strength and joy,” that he forgets a promise he made to his father. When he was leaving Athens, he swore that if he killed the beast and made it back alive, he would change his sail from black cloth to white. Theseus forgets to change the black sail, and his father, under the assumption that Theseus is dad, jumps off a cliff, killing himself. This makes Theseus the king, and he unites many City-states in Greece, and eventually takes King Minos’s kingdom as well. He rules as a fair and wise king, and many people look up to and respect

Everyone has many different personalities, but the two that Odysseus holds makes up who he is. In the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer Odysseus a very fearful man goes on a very long journey through ups and downs. Throughout his voyage he has brilliant ideas and plans along with some mad chaos.

Theseus showed the sword and the sandals to Aegeus who soon became very ecstatic that he was reunited with his brave son. Although the king was jubilant that his son found him, he was also distressed as it was that time of the year again. The time when six men and six women had to sacrifice themselves to the monstrous Minotaur. A rule so dark, only created by the ruler of Cretan, King Minos. Theseus was determined to go down into the Cretan Labyrinth and kill the Minotaur once and for all. This news spread throughout Athens, so many gods and goddess had something to say about Theseus. Athena, goddess of wisdom and strategies said “Theseus is quite a courageous man, although I do hope he uses some wisdomness strategies before killing the great

Finally, the Greek hero Theseus can be compared to the modern fictional Hero arrow through the final stage of the hero’s journey, which is the hero’s return. In the T.V. show, Arrow Oliver Queen returns to his home of starling city when he is eventually found on a remote island, which comes as a surprise to everyone in Starling City because he was presumed dead for many years. He turns into a vigilante and becomes known as the Arrow. He fights, to save his city from crime, and corruption using the skills he acquired on the island, and becomes known as a robin hood like figure by the people of Starling City, his return was fuelled by a desire to save his city. In Theseus’s return, he returns to the city of Athens where which is ruled by his

Theseus’ quest hoped to end the unnecessary sacrifices, but caused another. Theseus’ father, Aegeus was the King of Athens. Aegeus put a sword and shoes in a hole under a boulder, when Theseus could lift the stone, he was old enough to become the heir. Theseus was successful and traveled to Athens by land, a perilous route, killing all the bandits. Upon arrival at Athens he was praised and invited to the King’s dinner. Aegeus recognized his sword in Theseus’ hand and declared Theseus as his son and the heir. Every nine years the Minotaur took fourteen victims into his Labyrinth and Theseus was determined to end the cycle. He offered to be a victim, with a plan to kill the beast. In exchange for a marriage, Theseus received a ball of yarn along

Theseus, son of Athenian king Aegeus, was raised in a city near southern Greece. His mother was told by his father that if he was born a boy and became strong enough to move a boulder that guarded a sword and a pair of shoes, he could come back to Athens and claim that he is the son of Aegeus. Theseus accomplished this task easily and was ready to set off for Athens. His grandfather had a ship prepared to take him straight to Athens; however, just like his cousin Hercules, Theseus wanted to prove himself as a great hero and take risks. Theseus walked to Athens and killed every bandit in site; killing them in the ways that they killed their victims. Upon his arrival to Athens, Theseus was treated like a hero and caused the king to worry that this hero, who he didn't know was his son,

Theseus is not a hero due the following flaws he had in life. “His idea of dealing justice was simple, but effective: what each had done to others, Theseus did to him…Sinis, who killed people by fastening them to pine trees bent down to the ground and letting the trees go, died in that way himself.” (Hamilton 210) Heroes forgive and don’t revenge others because if doing so it won’t bring back the dead. However, Theseus’ ‘justice’ is to pay back the villains and let them die the same way they make others die. This clearly shows he isn’t a beneficial role model and would lead others to learn from him, to take revenge.

Overall, the ancient greeks valued Theseus because of his compassion and wisdom. Theseus showed compassion when Hercules’s burst of insanity, caused by his stepmother, Hera, led him to kill his wife and children and then want to kill himself. Although the public shunned Hercules, Theseus thought that a man could not be charged for murder if he had not known what he was doing, and those who had influenced the man should be charged for the crime as well. So Theseus brought him under his wing and welcomed him inside his house. Theseus, who was just as compassionate as he was wise, demonstrated his wisdom after his father’s death, who was king of Athens. The only place of power he wanted was the position of commander and chief. He also formed a council and a place where people could vote. Thus, establishing the first democracy. As seen in my first example, Theseus showed compassion to Hercules, when no other man

Bravery, the ability to perform accordingly, even when half scared to death is an exceptional trait possessed by humans, which allows us to move ahead in spite of fear and take risks to be successful within our lives. Perseus, son of Olympian King Zeus, is a prestigious hero in Greek mythology, illustrious for severing the head of vicious Gorgon Medusa. Theseus, son of Poseidon and King Aengus, is a prominent hero in Greek mythology, distinguished for the innumerable quests he participated in for the welfare of others to help eradicate notorious, obnoxious monsters. Theseus is extraordinarily courageous, which he proves throughout the multitudinous quests he goes on, while Perseus on the contrary demonstrates inconsequential courage when compared to Theseus. Correspondingly, Theseus justifies he is intelligent as he successfully completes his quests individually,

When he is there, he is almost sacrificed by being poisoned by Lady Medea, but the cup of poisoned wine is knocked away. “As my mouth touched it, I felt it plucked from my hands” (Renault 125). The reason he was going to be killed was to break the curse plaguing Athens that was brought upon by Aigeus’s grandfather. Aigeus weeps after Theseus discovers the king’s plan, but Theseus understands why he was supposed to die and feels that it is his duty to rule Athens to make up for the curse. Theseus inherits the curse, however, and his own son dies. However, the death of his son is the cause for the renewal of Athens and the lifting of the

Introduced as “a conqueror…greater” than any other “beneath the sun,” Thesëus, the wise and chivalrous lord Athens, is a merciful and noble duke (Chaucer 24). As a wise and noble leader, Thesëus, with a “heart of pity,” mends the ailments of his people, “ as he [is] a true knight.” (26).