Concept
Theseus
Overview
legendary king of Athens, son of Aegeus and Aethra; famous for slaying the Minotaur
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Theseus is discussed.
Theseus was the son of Aegeus and Aethra. His lineage, by his father's side, ascends as high as to Erechtheus and the first inhabitants of Attica. By his mother's side, he was descended of Pelops, who was the most powerful of all the kings of Peloponnesus.
Plutarch, The Boys' and Girls' Plutarch
a chapter is titled for it; names the idea; author linked in the graph; opens on it
On the two former occasions of the payment of the tribute, entertaining no hopes of safety or return, they sent out the ship with a black sail, as to unavoidable destruction; but now, Theseus encouraging his father and speaking greatly of himself, as confident that he should kill the Minotaur, he gave the pilot another sail, which was white, commanding him, as he returned, if Theseus were safe, to make use of that…
Plutarch, Plutarch
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; author linked in the graph; opens on it
Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostrate and Attendants. THESEUS. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Draws on apace; four happy days bring in Another moon; but oh, methinks, how slow This old moon wanes!
William Shakespeare, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; opens on it
THESEUS. His discretion, I am sure, cannot carry his valour; for the goose carries not the fox. It is well; leave it to his discretion, and let us listen to the moon. MOONSHINE. This lanthorn doth the hornèd moon present.
William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; opens on it
THESEUS. Will you, Arcite, Take these conditions? PALAMON. He’s a villaine, then. PERITHOUS. These are men. ARCITE.
John Fletcher, The Two Noble Kinsmen
names the idea; opens on it
Philosophers who discussed Theseus
Related ideas
- Aphrodite
- Athena
- Athens
- Geoffrey Chaucer
- Classical Athens
- Heracles
- Jorge Luis Borges
- Ancient Corinth
- Athenaeus
- Megara
- Pompeii
- Poseidon
- Greek mythology
- Saint Petersburg
- Plutarch
- Ship of Theseus
- Sophocles
- Thesis
- Virtual reality
- William Shakespeare
- Deipnosophistae
- Bulgaria
- Zeus
- Sparta
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Classicism.