Hercules is not the only hero in Greek Mythology. There are a number of different heroes that intrigue readers with their acts of bravery, one such hero is Theseus. His goal was to be like Hercules whose current adventures were very popular.
Like most Greek heroes Theseus’ biological father was a deity. In this case it was Poseidon. However, his earthly father was Aegeus King of Athens. After a romantic evening with Theseus’ mother Aethra, Aegeus left behind an iron sword and some sandals underneath a rock. He told Aethra that if a child resulted from their evening together that was strong enough to lift that rock he was to take the items hidden under it and come back to Athens where he will inherit the throne. Aegeus was unaware that Poseidon had also visited Aethra. Aethra did ultimately give birth to Theseus and he discovered the gifts left for him. Theseus took this opportunity to set off on an adventure that would allow him to be like the Hercules.
On the road to Athens Theseus encountered various monsters that Hercules had left alone. He used them as an opportunity to gain fame. One such encounter was with a robber who would trick unsuspecting travelers with great kindness but when they least expected it they were thrown over a cliff into the mouth of a giant tortoise who would eat them. By the time Theseus made it to Athens people were talking about him. King Aegeus greeted him as a hero at a great feast, in the midst of the feast he recognized him as his son.
Theseus learned that as a result of the loss of a past battle with the kingdom of Crete seven girls and seven boys were sent to Crete every nine years to be fed to the Minotaur who was half bull and half man. Theseus talked his father into allowing him to go, Aegeus told the captain of the ship that if his son were alive to raise a white flag upon his return.
The princess of Crete fell madly in love with Theseus and helped him plan an escape from the labyrinth of the Minotaur. In the labyrinth Theseus fought the Minotaur and won. On the way home Theseus left the princess at a sandy beach. As the ship approached Athens the captain forgot to raise the white flag and King Aegeus jumped off a cliff thinking that his son was dead.
Theseus took over as King of Athens and had three sons, the eldest being Hippolytus the son of an Amazonian princess. Eventually Hippolytus was given the throne of Troezen from his great grandfather. After putting down a coup from his uncle and cousins, Theseus went on a retreat to Troezen. While there, Theseus’ current wife Phaedra fell desperately in love with Hippolytus. However, Hippolytus would not return her love for he was a devotee of Artemis and had pledged his virginity to her. When Hippolytus turned down Phaedra she committed suicide. A note was found by her body that said she killed herself because Hippolytus had raped her. In his rage Theseus had Poseidon kill his son by having him caught up in the reigns of his horses and thrown off a cliff. Theseus later discovered the truth and found that Phaedra was a pawn in Aphrodite’s revenge on Hippolytus for choosing Artemis over her. Theseus died some years later by falling off a cliff on accident. Unlike Hercules Theseus died as a mortal.
