From 99a849d1896bf3307c1c7b87f15b28eca6f23f5a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: sonofmun Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2017 16:48:45 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Added tlg0007.tlg001.ogl-eng1.xml Plutarch Life of Theseus --- data/tlg0007/__cts__.xml | 3 + data/tlg0007/tlg001/__cts__.xml | 7 + .../tlg001/tlg0007.tlg001.ogl-eng1.xml | 1325 +++++++++++++++++ 3 files changed, 1335 insertions(+) create mode 100644 data/tlg0007/__cts__.xml create mode 100644 data/tlg0007/tlg001/__cts__.xml create mode 100644 data/tlg0007/tlg001/tlg0007.tlg001.ogl-eng1.xml diff --git a/data/tlg0007/__cts__.xml b/data/tlg0007/__cts__.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0e5e53 --- /dev/null +++ b/data/tlg0007/__cts__.xml @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ + + Plutarch + diff --git a/data/tlg0007/tlg001/__cts__.xml b/data/tlg0007/tlg001/__cts__.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e5b5f78 --- /dev/null +++ b/data/tlg0007/tlg001/__cts__.xml @@ -0,0 +1,7 @@ + + Life of Theseus + + Life of Theseus + Plutarch, Life of Theseus, Stewart and Long, George Bell and Sons, 1906 + + diff --git a/data/tlg0007/tlg001/tlg0007.tlg001.ogl-eng1.xml b/data/tlg0007/tlg001/tlg0007.tlg001.ogl-eng1.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf3f6e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/data/tlg0007/tlg001/tlg0007.tlg001.ogl-eng1.xml @@ -0,0 +1,1325 @@ + + + + + + + Life of Theseus + Plutarch + Aubrey Stewart + George Long + University of Leipzig + European Social Fund Saxony + + Jouve + OCR-ed, corrected and encoded the text + + + Gregory Crane + Editor-in-Chief, Perseus Digital Library + + + Matt Munson + Project Manager (University of Leipzig), 2016 - present + + + Annette Gessner + Project Assistant (University of Leipzig) 2015 - present + + + Thibault Clérice + Lead Developer (University of Leipzig) 2015 - 2017 + + + Bruce Robertson + Technical Advisor (Mount Allison University) + + + + + University of Leipzig + tlg0007.tlg001.ogl-eng1.xml + + Available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License + + 2017 + University of Leipzig + Germany + + + + + + + + + Aubrey Stewart + + + George Long + + + Plutarch + Lives + + George Bell and Sons + London + 1906 + + 1 + + HathiTrust + + + + + + + +

The following text is encoded in accordance with EpiDoc standards

+ + + + + + + + English + + + + + + +
+ + PLUTARCH'S LIVES. + + + LIFE OF THESEUS. + +
+

As in books on geography, Sossius Senecio, the writers + crowd the countries of which they know nothing into the + furthest margins of their maps, and write upon them + legends such as, " In this direction lie waterless deserts + full of wild beasts;" or, “ Unexplored morasses;" or, + “ Here it is as cold as Scythia ;” or, “ A frozen sea so + I, in my writings on Parallel Lives, go through that + period of time where history rests on the firm basis of + facts, and may truly say, “ All beyond this is portentous + and fabulous, inhabited by poets and mythologers, and + there is nothing true or certain."

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When I had written the lives of Lykurgus the law­ + giver and Numa the king, it appeared to me natural to go + back to Romulus also, as I was engaged on the history of + times so close to his. So when I was reflecting, in the + words of AEschylus, + a Against this chieftain, who can best contend ? + Whom shall I match in fight, what trusty friend ?” + it occurred to me to compare the founder of the fair and + famous city of Athens with him, and to contrast Theseus + with the father of unconquered glorious Rome. Putting + aside, then, the mythological element, let us examine his + story, and wherever it obstinately defies probability, and + cannot be explained by natural agency, let us beg the in­ + dulgence of our readers, who will kindly make allowance + for tales of antiquity. B

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Theseus appears to have several points of resemblance + to Romulus. Both were unacknowledged illegitimate + children, and were reputed to descend from the Gods. + “ Both warriors, well we all do know: + and both were wise as well as powerful. The one founded + Rome, while the other was the joint founder of Athens; + and these are two of the most famous of cities. Both + carried off women by violence, and neither of them escaped + domestic misfortune and retribution, but towards the end + of their lives both were at variance with their countrymen, + if we may put any trust in the least extravagant writings + upon the subject.

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Theseus traced his descent on the father's side from + Erechtheus and the original Autocthones,* while on the + mother's side he was descended from Pelops. For Pelops + surpassed all the other princes of the Peloponnesus in the + number of his children as well as in wealth; and of these + he gave many of his daughters in marriage to the chief + men of the country, and established many of his sons as + rulers in various cities. One of these, Pittheus, the grand­ + father of Theseus, founded Trœzen, which is indeed but + a little state, though he had a greater reputation than any + man of his time for eloquence and wisdom. The nature + of this wisdom of his seems to have been much of the + same kind as that which made the reputation of + Hesiod, in the collection of maxims known as the ‘ Works + and Days.' One of these maxims is indeed ascribed to + Pittheus: + “ Let promised pay be truly paid to friends." + At any rate, this is what Aristotle the philosopher has + recorded ; and also Euripides, when he speaks of Hippolytus + as “ child of holy Pittheus," shows the prevailing opinion + about Pittheus. Now Ægeus desired to have children, + and the Oracle at Delphi is said to have given him the + well-known response, forbidding him to have intercourse * Autochthones was the name by which the original citizens of + Athens called themselves, meaning that they were sprung from the + soil itself, not immigrants from some other country. + + with any woman before he reached Athens, but not + appearing to explain this clearly. Consequently, on his + way home, he went to Trœzen, and asked the advice of + Pittheus about the response of the God, which ran thus: + “ Great chief, the wine-skin's foot must closed remain, + Till thou to Athens art returned again." + Pittheus clearly perceived what the oracle must mean, and + persuaded or cheated Ægeus into an intrigue with Æthra. + Afterwards, when he discovered that he had conversed + with the daughter of Pittheus, as he imagined that she + might prove with child, he left behind him his sword and + sandals hidden under a great stone, which had a hollow + inside it exactly fitting them. This he told to AEthra + alone, and charged her if a son of his should be born, and + on growing to man's estate should be able to lift the stone + and take from under it the deposit, that she should send + him at once with these things to himself, in all secrecy, + and as far as possible concealing his journey from obser­ + vation. For he greatly feared the sons of Pallas, who + plotted against him, and despised him on account of his + childlessness, they themselves being fifty brothers, all the + sons of Pallas.

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When Æthra's child was born, some writers say + that he was at once named Theseus, from the tokens + placed under the stone; others say that he was afterwards + so named at Athens, when Ægeus acknowledged him as + his son. He was brought up by his grandfather Pittheus, + and had a master and tutor, Konnidas, to whom even to + the present day, the Athenians sacrifice a ram on the day + before the feast of Theseus, a mark of respect which is + much more justly due to him, than those which they pay + to Silanion and Parrhasius, who have only made pictures + and statues of Theseus.

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As it was at that period still the custom for those + who were coming to man's estate to go to Delphi and offer + to the god the first-fruits of their hair (which was then + cut for the first time),* Theseus went to Delphi, and they * The first cutting of the hair was always an occasion of solemnity + among the Greeks, the hair being dedicated to some god. The first + instance of this is in Homer's Iliad, where Achilles speaks of having B 2 + + say that a place there is even to this day named after him. + But he only cut the front part of his hair, as Homer tells + us the Abantes did, and this fashion of cutting the hair + was called Theseus's fashion because of him. The Abantes + first began to cut their hair in this manner, not having, as + some say, been taught to do so by the Arabians, nor yet + from any wish to imitate the Mysians, but because they + were a warlike race, and met their foes in close combat, + and studied above all to come to a hand-to-hand fight with + their enemy, as Archilochus bears witness in his verses: + “ They use no slings nor bows, + Eubœa's martial lords, + But hand to hand they close + And conquer with their swords.” + So they cut their hair short in front, that their enemies + might not grasp it. And they say that Alexander of + Macedon for the same reason ordered his generals to have + the beards of the Macedonians shaved, because they were + a convenient handle for the enemy to grasp.

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Now while he was yet a child, Æthra concealed + the real parentage of Theseus, and a story was circulated + by Pittheus that his father was Poseidon. For the people + of Trœzen have an especial reverence for Poseidon; he is + their tutelar deity; to him they offer first-fruits of their + harvest, and they stamp their money with the trident + as their badge. But when he was grown into a youth, + and proved both strong in body and of good sound sense, + then AEthra led him to the stone, told him the truth + about his father, and bade him take the tokens from + beneath it and sail to Athens with them. He easily lifted + the stone, but determined not to go to Athens by sea, + though the voyage was a safe and easy one, and though + his mother and his grandfather implored him to go that + way. By land it was a difficult matter to react Athens, + as the whole way was infested with robbers and bandits. + That time, it seems, produced men of great and un­ + wearied strength and swiftness, who made no good use of dedicated his hair to the river Spercheius. The Athenian youth + offered their hair to Herakles. The Roman emperor Nero, in latef + times, imitated this custom. + + these powers, but treated all men with overbearing inso­ + lence, taking advantage of their strength to overpower + and slay all who fell into their hands, and disregarding + justice and right and kindly feeling, which they said + were only approved of by those who dared not do injury + to others, or feared to be injured themselves, while men + who could get the upper hand by force might disregard + them. Of these ruffians, Herakles in his wanderings cut + off a good many, but others had escaped him by concealing + themselves, or had been contemptuously spared by him on + account of their insignificance. But Herakles had the mis­ + fortune to kill Iphitus, and thereupon sailed to Lydia and + was for a long time a slave in that country under Omphale, + which condition he had imposed upon himself as a penance + for the murder of his friend. During this period the + country of Lydia enjoyed peace and repose; but in Greece + the old plague of brigandage broke out afresh, as there + was now no one to put it down. So that the journey + overland to Athens from Peloponnesus was full of peril; + and Pittheus, by relating to Theseus who each of these + evildoers was, and how they treated strangers, tried to + prevail upon him to go by sea. But it appears that + Theseus had for a long time in his heart been excited by + the renown of Herakles for courage: he thought more + of him than of any one else, and loved above all to listen + to those who talked of him, especially if they had seen + and spoken to him. Now he could no longer conceal that + he was in the same condition as Themistokles in later + times, when he said that the trophy of Miltiades would + not let him sleep. Just so did the admiration which + Theseus conceived for Herakles make him dream by night + of his great exploits, and by day determine to equal them + by similar achievements of his own.

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As it happened, they were connected, being second + cousins; for AEthra was the daughter of Pittheus, and + Alkmena the daughter of Lysidike, and Lysidike and + Pittheus were brother and sister, being the children of + Pelops and Hippodameia. So Theseus thought that it + would be a great and unbearable disgrace to him that his + cousin should go everywhere and clear the sea and land + of the brigands who infested them, and he should refuse + + to undertake the adventures that came in his way; throw­ + ing discredit upon his reputed father by a pusillanimous + flight by sea, and upon his real father by bringing him + only the sandals and an unfleshed sword, and not proving + his noble birth by the evidence of some brave deed accom­ + plished by him. In this spirit he set out on his journey, + with the intention of doing wrong to no one, but of + avenging himself on any one who offered wrong to him.

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And first in Epidaurus he slew Periphetes, who + used a club as his weapon, and on this account was called + the club-bearer, because he laid hands upon him and + forbade him to proceed farther on his way. The club took < + his fancy, and he adopted it as a weapon, and always used + it, just as Herakles used his lion's skin; for the skin was + a proof of how huge a beast the wearer had overcome, + while the club, invincible in the hands of Theseus, had + yet been worsted when used against him. At the Isthmus + he destroyed Sinis the Pine-bender by the very device by + which he had slain so many people, and that too without + having ever practised the art, proving that true valour + is better than practice and training. Sinis had a daughter, + a tall and beautiful girl, named Perigoune. When her + father fell she ran and hid herself. Theseus sought her + everywhere, but she fled into a place where wild asparagus + grew thick, and with a simple child-like faith besought the + plants to conceal her, as if they could understand her words, + promising that if they did so she never would destroy or + burn them. However, when Theseus called to her, pledging + himself to take care of her and do her no hurt, she came + out, and afterwards bore Theseus a son, named Melanippus. + She afterwards was given by Theseus in marriage to + Deioneus, the son of Eurytus of Œchalia. Ioxus, a son of + Melanippus, and Theseus's grandchild, took part in + Ornytus's settlement in Caria; and for this reason the + descendants of Ioxus have a family custom not to burn + the asparagus plant, but to reverence and worship it.

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Now the wild sow of Krommyon, whom they called 1 + Phaia, was no ordinary beast, but a fierce creature and + hard to conquer. This animal he turned out of his way + to destroy, that it might not be thought that he performed + his exploits of necessity. Besides, he said, a brave man + + need only punish wicked men when they came in his + way, but that in the case of wild beasts he must himself + seek them out and attack them. Some say that Phaia + was a murderous and licentious woman who carried on + brigandage at Krommyon, and was called a sow from her + life and habits, and that Theseus put her to death.

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Before coming to Megara he slew Skeiron by flinging + him down a precipice into the sea, so the story runs, + because he was a robber, but some say that from arrogance + he used to hold out his feet to strangers and bid them + wash them, and that then he kicked the washers into the + sea. But Megarian writers, in opposition to common + tradition, and, as Simonides says, “ warring with all + antiquity," say that Skeiron was not an arrogant brigand, + but repressed brigandage, loved those who were good and + just, and was related to them. For, they point out, Æakus + is thought to have been the most righteous of all the + Greeks, and Kychreus of Salamis was worshipped as a + god, and the virtue of Peleus and Telamon is known to + all. Yet Skeiron was the son-in-law of Kychreus, and + father-in-law of Æakus, and grandfather of Peleus and + Telamon, who were both of them sons of Endeis, the + daughter of Skeiron and his wife Chariklo. It is not then + reasonable to suppose that these, the noblest men of their + time, would make alliances with a malefactor, and give + and receive from him what they prized most dearly. But + they say that Theseus slew Skeiron, not when he first + went to Athens, but that afterwards he took the town of + Eleusis which belonged to the Megarians, by dealing + treacherously with Dickies, who was the chief magistrate + there, and that on that occasion he killed Skeiron. This + is what tradition says on both sides.

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At Eleusis Theseus overcame Kerkyon of Arcadia in + wrestling and killed him, and after journeying a little farther + he killed Damastes, who was surnamed Prokroustes, by com­ + pelling him to fit his own body to his bed, just as he used + to fit the bodies of strangers to it. This he did in imita­ + tion of Herakles ; for he used to retort upon his aggressors + the same treatment which they intended for him. Thus + Herakles offered up Busiris as a sacrifice, and overcame + Antæus in wrestling, and Kyknus in single combat, and + + killed Termerus by breaking his skull. This is, they say, + the origin of the proverb, “ A Termerian mischief," for + Termerus, it seems, struck passers-by with his head, and + so killed them. So also did Theseus sally forth and + chastise evildoers, making them undergo the same cruelties + which they practised on others, thus justly punishing + them for their crimes in their own wicked fashion.

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As he proceeded on his way, and reached the + river Kephisus, men of the Phytalid race were the first to + meet and greet him. He demanded to be purified from + the guilt of bloodshed, and they purified him, made pro­ + pitiatory offerings, and also entertained him in their + houses, being the first persons from whom he had received + any kindness on his journey. It is said to have been on + the eighth day of the month Kronion, which is now called + Hekatombeion, that he came to his own city. On entering + it he found public affairs disturbed by factions, and the + house of Ægeus in great disorder; for Medea, who had + been banished from Corinth, was living with Ægeus, and + had engaged by her drugs to enable Ægeus to have + children. She was the first to discover who Theseus was, + while Ægeus, who was an old man, and feared every one + because of the disturbed state of society, did not recognise + him. Consequently she advised Ægeus to invite him to a + feast. that she might poison him. Theseus accordingly + came to Ægeus's table. He did not wish to be the first to + tell his name, but, to give his father an opportunity of + recognising him, he drew his sword, as if he meant to cut + some of the meat with it, and showed it to Ægeus. + Ægeus at once recognised it, overset the cup of poison, + looked closely at his son and embraced him. He then + called a public meeting and made Theseus known as his + son to the citizens, with whom he was already very popular + because of his bravery. It is said that when the cup was + overset the poison was spilt in the place where now there + is the enclosure in the Delphinium, for there Ægeus dwelt; + and the Hermes to the east of the temple there they call + the one who is “ at the door of Ægeus.”

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But the sons of Pallas, who had previously to + this expected that they would inherit the kingdom on the + death of Ægeus without issue, now that Theseus was + + declared the heir, were much enraged, first that Ægeus + should be king, a man who was merely an adopted child + of Pandion, and had no blood relationship to Erechtheus, + and next that Theseus, a stranger and a foreigner, should + inherit the kingdom. They consequently declared war. + Dividing themselves into two bodies, the one proceeded to + march openly upon the city from Sphettus, under the com­ + mand of PaRas their father, while the other lay in ambush + at Gargettus, in order that they might fall upon their + opponents on two sides at once. But there was a herald + among them named Leos, of the township of Agnus, who + betrayed the plans of the sons of Pallas to Theseus. He + suddenly. attacked those who were in ambush, and killed + them all, hearing which the other body under Pallas + dispersed. From this time forth they say that the town­ + ship of Pallene has never intermarried with that of Agnus, + and that it is not customary amongst them for heralds to + begin a proclamation with the words " Acouete Leo," + (Oyez) for they hate the name of Leo* because of the + treachery of that man.

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Now Theseus, who wished for employment, and + also to make himself popular with the people, went to + attack the Lull of Marathon, who had caused no little + trouble to the inhabitants of Tetrapolis. He overcame + the beast, and drove it alive through the city for all men + to see, and then sacrificed it to Apollo of Delphi. Hekale, + too, and the legend of her having entertained Theseus, does + not seem altogether without foundation in fact; for the + people of the neighbouring townships used to assemble and + perform what was called the Hekalesian sacrifice to Zeus + Hekalus, and they also used to honour Hekale, calling her + by the affectionate diminutive Hekaline, because she also, + when feasting Theseus, who was very young, embraced + him in a motherly way, and used such like endearing + diminutives. She also made a vow on Theseus's behalf, + when he was going forth to battle, that if he returned + safe she would sacrifice to Zeus; but as she died before he + returned, she had the above-mentioned honours instituted + by command of Theseus, as a grateful return for her + hospitality. This is the legend as told by Philochorus. * The Greek word leos signifies people. +

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Shortly after this the ship from Crete arrived for + the third time to collect the customary tribute. Most + writers agree that the origin of this was, that on the death + of Androgens, in Attica, which was ascribed to treachery, + his father Minos went to war, and wrought much evil to + the country, which at the same time was afflicted by + scourges from Heaven (for the land did not bear fruit, and + there was a great pestilence and the rivers sank into the + earth). So that as the oracle told the Athenians that, if + they propitiated Minos and came to terms with him, the + anger of Heaven would cease and they should have a + respite from their sufferings, they sent an embassy to + Minos and prevailed on him to make peace, on the con­ + dition that every nine years they should send him a + tribute of seven youths and seven maidens. The most + tragic of the legends states these poor children when they + reached Crete were thrown into the Labyrinth, and there + either were devoured by the Minotaur or else perished with + hunger, being unable to find the way out. The Minotaur, + as Euripides tells us, was + " A form commingled, and a monstrous birth, + Half man, half bull, in twofold shape combined."

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Philochorus says that the Cretans do not recog­ + nise this story, but say that the Labyrinth was merely a + prison, like any other, from which escape was impossible, + and that Minos instituted gymnastic games in honour of + Androgeus, in which the prizes for the victors were these + children, who till then were kept in the Labyrinth. Also + they say that the victor in the first contest was a man of + great power in the state, a general of the name of Taurus, + who was of harsh and savage temper, and ill-treated the + Athenian children. And Aristotle himself, in his treatise + on the constitution of the Bottiæans, evidently does not + believe that the children were put to death by Minos, but + that they lived in Crete as slaves, until extreme old age; + and that one day the Cretans, in performance of an ancient + vow, sent first-fruits of their population to Delphi. Among + those who were thus sent were the descendants of the + Athenians, and, as they could not maintain themselves + there, they first passed over to Italy, and there settled + + near Iapygium, and from thence again removed to Thrace, + and took the name of Bottiæans. For this reason, the + Bottiæan maidens when performing a certain sacrifice + sing “ Let us go to Athens." Thus it seems to be a terrible + thing to incur the hatred of a city powerful in speech and + song ; for on the Attic stage Minos is always vilified and + traduced, and though he was called “ Most Kingly " by + Hesiod, and “ Friend of Zeus " by Homer, it gained him no + credit, but the playwrights overwhelmed him with abuse, + styling him cruel and violent. And yet Minos is said to + have been a king and a lawgiver, and Rhadamanthus to + have been a judge under him, carrying out his decrees.

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So when the time of the third payment of the + tribute arrived, and those fathers who had sons not yet + grown up had to submit to draw lots, the unhappy people + began to revile Ægeus, complaining that he, although the + author of this calamity, yet took no share in their afflic­ + tion, but endured to see them left childless, robbed of + their own legitimate offspring, while he made a foreigner + and a bastard the heir to his kingdom. This vexed + Theseus, and determining not to hold aloof, but to share the + fortunes of the people, he came forward and offered himself + without being drawn by lot. The people all admired + his courage and patriotism, and Ægeus finding that his + prayers and entreaties had no effect on his unalterable + resolution, proceeded to choose the rest by lot. Hellanikus + says that the city did not select the youths and maidens + by lot, but that Minos himself came thither and chose + them, and that he picked out Theseus first of all, upon + the usual conditions, which were that the Athenians + should furnish a ship, and that the youths should embark + in it and sail with him, not carrying with them any + weapon of war; and that when the Minotaur was slain, + the tribute should cease. Formerly, nO one had any hope + of safety; so they used to send out the ship with a black + sail, as if it were going to a certain doom; but now + Theseus so encouraged his father, and boasted that he + would overcome the Minotaur, that he gave a second sail, + a white one, to the steersman, and charged him on his + return, if Theseus were safe, to hoist the white one, if not, + the black one as a sign of mourning. But Simonides says + + that it was not a white sail which was given by Ægeus, + but " a scarlet sail embrued in holm oak's juice," and that + this was agreed on by him as the signal of safety. The + ship was steered by Phereklus the son of Amarsyas, + according to Simonides.

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But Philochorus says that Theseus had one Nausithous + sent him from Skirus of Salamis, to steer the ship, and + Phæax to act as look-out, as the Athenians had not yet + turned their attention to the sea.

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One of the youths chosen by lot was Menestheos the + son of Skirus's daughter. The truth of this account is + attested by the shrines of Nausithous and Phæax, which + Theseus built at Phalerum, and by the feast called the + Kybernesia or pilot's festival, which is held in their + honour.

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When the lots were drawn Theseus brought the + chosen youths from the Prytaneum, and proceeding to the + temple of the Delphian Apollo, offered the suppliants' + bough to Apollo on their behalf. This was a bough of + the sacred olive-tree bound with fillets of white wool. + And after praying he went to sea on the sixth day of the + month Munychion, on which day even now they send + maidens as suppliants to the temple of the Delphian + Apollo. And there is a legend that the Delphian oracle + told him that Aphrodite would be his guide and fellow­ + traveller, and that when he was sacrificing a she-goat to + her by the seaside, it became a he-goat; wherefore the + goddess is called Epitragia.

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When they reached Crete, according to most + historians and poets, Ariadne fell in love with him, and + from her he received the clue of string, and was taught + how to thread the mazes of the Labyrinth. He slew the + Minotaur, and, taking with him Ariadne and the youths, + sailed away. Pherekydes also says that Theseus also + knocked out the bottoms of the Cretan ships, to prevent + pursuit. But Demon says that Taurus, Minos's general, + was slain in a sea-fight in the harbour, when Theseus + sailed away. But according to Philochorus, when Minos + instituted his games, Taurus was expected to win every + prize, and was grudged this honour; for his great influence + and his unpopular manners made him disliked, and soandal + + said, that he was too intimate with Pasiphae. On this + account, when Theseus offered to contend with him, Minos + agreed. And, as it was the custom in Crete for women as + well as men to be spectators of the games, Ariadne was + present, and was struck with the appearance of Theseus, + and his strength, as he conquered all competitors. Minos + was especially pleased, in the wrestling match, at Taurus's + defeat and shame, and, restoring the children to Theseus, + remitted the tribute for the future. Kleidemus tells the + story in his own fashion and at unnecessary length, be­ + ginning much farther back. There was, he says, a + decree passed by all the Greeks, that no ship should sail + from any post with more than five hands on board, but + Jason alone, the master of the great ship Argo, should + cruise about, and keep the sea free of pirates. Now when + Daedalus fled to Athens, Minos, contrary to the decree, + pursued him in long war galleys, and being driven to + Sicily by a storm, died there. When his son Deukalion + sent a warlike message to the Athenians, bidding them + give up Daedalus to him, or else threatening that he + would put to death the children whom Minos had taken + as hostages, Theseus returned him a gentle answer, beg­ + ging for the life of Dædalus, who was his own cousin + and blood relation, being the son of Merope, the daughter + of Erechtheus. But he busied himself with building a + fleet, some of it in Attica, in the country of the Thymai­ + tadae, far from any place of resort of strangers, and some + in Trœzen, under the management of Pittheus, as he did + not wish his preparations to be known. But when the + ships were ready to set sail, having with him as pilots, + Dædalus himself and some Cretan exiles, as no one + knew that he was coming, and the Cretans thought that it + was a friendly fleet that was advancing, he seized the + harbour, and marched at once to Knossus before his arrival + was known. Then he fought a battle at the gates of the + Labyrinth, and slew Deukalion and his body-guard. As + Ariadne now succeeded to the throne, he made peace with + her, took back the youths, and formed an alliance between + the Cretans and the Athenians, in which each nation + swore that it would not begin a war against the other.

+
+
+

There are many more stories about these events, + + and about Ariadne, none of which agree in any particulars. + Some say that she hanged herself when deserted by + Theseus, and some, that she was taken to Naxos by his + sailors, and there dwelt with Œnarus, the priest of + Dionysus, having been deserted by Theseus, who was in + love with another. + “ For Ægle's love disturbed his breast." + This line, we are told by Hereas of Megara, was struck + out of Hesiod's poems by Peisistratus ; and again he says + that he inserted into Homer's description of the Shades, + a Peirithous and Theseus, born of gods," + to please the Athenians. Some writers say that Theseus + had by Ariadne two sons, Staphylus and Œnopion, whom + Ion of Chios follows when he speaks of his own native + city as that + " Which erst (Enopion stablished, Theseus' son." + The pleasantest of these legends are in nearly every one's + mouth. But Pæon of Amathus gives an account peculiar to + himself, that Theseus was driven by a storm to Cyprus, + and that Ariadne, who was pregnant, suffered much from + the motion of the ship, and became so ill, that she was set + on shore, but Theseus had to return to take charge of the + ship, and was blown off to sea. The women of the country + took care of Ariadne, and comforted her in her bereave­ + ment, even bringing forged letters to her as if from + Theseus, and rendering her assistance during her confine­ + ment ; and when she died in childbirth, they buried her. + Theseus, on his return, grieved much, and left money to + the people of the country, bidding them sacrifice to + Ariadne; he also set up two little statues, one of silver, + and the other of brass. And at this sacrifice, which takes + place on the second day of the month Gorpiæus, one of the + young men lies down on the ground, and imitates the cries + of a woman in travail; and the people of Amathus call + that the grove of Ariadne Aphrodite, in which they show + her tomb.

+

But some writers of Naxos tell a different story, peculiar + to themselves, that there were two Minoses and two + + Ariadnes, of whom one, they say, was married to Dionysus + in Naxos, and was the mother of Staphylus and his brother, + while the younger was carried off by Theseus, and came + to Naxos after he deserted her; and a nurse called Korkyne + came with her, whose tomb they point out. Then Naxians + also says that this Ariadne died there, and is honoured, + but not so much as the elder; for at the feast in honour + of the elder, there are merriment and revelry, but at that + of the younger gloomy rites are mingled with mirth.

+
+
+

Theseus, when he sailed away from Croto, touched + at Delos ; here he sacrificed to the god and offered up the + statue of Aphrodite, which Ariadne had given him; and + besides this, he and the youths with him danced a measure + which they say is still practised by the people of Delos to + this day, being an imitation of the turnings and windings + of the Labyrinth expressed by complicated evolutions per­ + formed in regular order. This kind of dance is called by + the Delians “ the crane dance," according to Diksearchus. + It was danced round the altar of the Horns, which is all + formed of horns from the left side. They also say that he + instituted games at Delos, and that then for the first time + a palm was given by him to the victor.

+
+
+

As he approached Attica, both he and his steers­ + man in their delight forgot to hoist the sail which was to + be a signal of their safety to Ægeus ; and he in his despair + flung himself down the cliffs and perished. Theseus, as + soon as he reached the harbour, performed at Phalerum + the sacrifices which he had vowed to the gods if he re­ + turned safe, and sent off a herald to the city with the news + of his safe return. This man met with many who were + lamenting the death of the king, and, as was natural, with + others who were delighted at the news of their safety, and + who congratulated him and wished to crown him with + garlands. These he received, but placed them on his + herald's staff, and when he came back to the seashore, + finding that Theseus had not completed his libation, he + waited outside the temple, not wishing to disturb the + sacrifice. When the libation was finished he announced + the death of Ægeus, and then they all hurried up to the + city with loud lamentations: wherefore to this day, at + the Oschophoria, they say that it is not the herald that is + + crowned, but his staff, and that at the libations the by­ + standers cry out, “Eleleu, Iou, Iou;" of which cries the + first is used by men in haste, or raising the paean for + battle, while the second is used by persons in surprise and + trouble.

+

Theseus, after burying his father, paid his vow to + Apollo, on the seventh day of the month Pyanepsion; for + on this day it was that the rescued youths went up into + the city. The boiling of pulse, which is customary on + this anniversary, is said to be done because the rescued + youths put what remained of their pulse together into one + pot, boiled it all, and merrily feasted on it together. And + on this day also, the Athenians carry about the Eiresione, + a bough of the olive tree garlanded with wool, just as + Theseus had before carried the suppliants' bough, and + covered with first-fruits of all sorts of produce, because the + barrenness of the land ceased on that day; and they sing, + “ Eiresione, bring us figs + And wheaten loaves, and oil, + And wine to quaff, that we may all + Rest merrily from toil."

+

However, some say that these ceremonies are performed + in memory of the Herakleidæ, who were thus entertained + by the Athenians; but most writers tell the tale as I have + told it.

+
+
+

Now the thirty-oared ship, in which Theseus + sailed with the youths, and came back safe, was kept by + the Athenians up to the time of Demetrius Phalereus. + They constantly removed the decayed part of her timbers. + and renewed them with sound wood, so that the ship + became an illustration to philosophers of the doctrine of + growth and change, as some argued that it remained the + same, and others, that it did not remain the same. The + feast of the Oschophoria, or of carrying boughs, which to + this day the Athenians celebrate, was instituted by + Theseus. For he did not take with him all the maidens + who were drawn by lot, but he chose two youths, his + intimate friends, who were feminine and fair to look upon, + but of manly spirit; those by warm baths and avoiding + the heat of the sun and careful tending of their hair and + + skin he completely metamorphosed, teaching them to + imitate the voice and carriage and walk of maidens. + These two were then substituted in the place of two of + the girls, and deceived every one; and when they re­ + turned, he and these two youths walked in procession, + dressed as now those who carry boughs at the Oschophoria + are dressed. They carry them in honour of Dionysus and + Ariadne, because of the legend, or rather because they + returned home when the harvest was being gathered in. + And the women called supper-carriers join in carrying + them and partake of the sacrifice, in imitation of the + mothers of those who were drawn by lot; for they used + continually to bring their children food. Also, old tales + are told, because these women used to tell their children + such ones, to encourage and amuse them.

+

These things are related by the historian Demus. + Moreover, a sacred enclosure was dedicated to Theseus, + and those families out of whom the tribute of the children + had been gathered were bidden to contribute to sacrifices + to him. These sacrifices were presided over by the + Phytalidæ, which post Theseus bestowed upon them as a + recompense for their hospitality towards him.

+
+
+

After the death of Ægeus, Theseus conceived a + great and important design. He gathered together all + the inhabitants of Attica and made them citizens of one + city, whereas before they had lived dispersed, so as to be + hard to assemble together for the common weal, and at + times even fighting with one another.

+

He visited all the villages and tribes, and won their + consent; the poor and lower classes gladly accepting his + proposals, while he gained over the more powerful by + promising that the new constitution should not include a + king, but that it should be a pure commonwealth, with + himself merely acting as general of its army and guardian + of its laws, while in other respects it would allow perfect + freedom and equality to every one. By these arguments + he convinced some of them, and the rest knowing his + power and courage chose rather to be persuaded than + forced into compliance. He therefore destroyed the pry­ + taneia, the senate house, and the magistracy of each + individual township, built one common prytaneum and a + + senate house for them all on the site of the present + acropolis, called the city Athens, and instituted the + Panathenaic festival common to all of them. He also + instituted a festival for the resident aliens, on the six­ + teenth of the month, Hekatombeion, which is still kept + up. And having, according to his promise, laid down his + sovereign power, he arranged the new constitution under + the auspices of the gods ; for he made inquiry at Delphi + as to how he should deal with the city, and received the + following answer: + “ Thou son of Ægeus and of Pittheus’ maid, + My father hath within thy city laid + The bounds of many cities ; weigh not down + Thy soul with thought; the bladder cannot drown."

+

The same thing they say was afterwards prophesied by + the Sibyl concerning the city, in these words : + " The bladder may be dipped, but cannot drown."

+
+
+

Wishing still further to increase the number of + his citizens, he invited all strangers to come and share + equal privileges, and they say that the words now used, + " Come hither all ye peoples," was the proclamation then + used by Theseus, establishing as it were a commonwealth + of all natiors. But he did not permit his state to fall + into the disorder which this influx of all kinds of people + would probably have produced, but divided the people into + three classes, of Eupatridæ or nobles, Geomori or farmers, + Demiurgi or artisans. To the Eupatridæ he assigned the + care of religious rites, the supply of magistrates for the + city, and the interpretation of the laws and customs sacred + or profane, yet he placed them on an equality with the + other citizens, thinking that the nobles would always excel + in dignity, the farmers in usefulness, and the artisans in + numbers. Aristotle tells us that he was the first who + inclined to democracy, and gave up the title of king ; and + Homer seems to confirm this view by speaking of the + people of the Athenians alone of all the states men­ + tioned in his catalogue of ships. Theseus also struck + money with the figure of a bull, either alluding to the + bull of Marathon, or Taurus, Minos' general, or else to + + encourage farming among the citizens. Hence they say + came the words, " worth ten," or " worth a hundred oxen." + He permanently annexed Megara to Attica, and set up the + famous pillar on the Isthmus, on which he wrote the + distinction between the countries in two trimeter lines, of + which the one looking east says, + “ This is not Peloponnesus, but Ionia, + and the one looking west says, + “ This is Peloponnesus, not Ionia." + And also he instituted games there, in emulation of + Herakles; that, just as Herakles had ordained that the + Greeks should celebrate the Olympic games in honour + of Zeus, so by Theseus's appointment they should celebrate + the Isthmian games in honour of Poseidon.

+

The festival which was previously established there in + honour of Melikerta used to be celebrated by night, and to + be more like a religious mystery than a great spectacle and + gathering. Some writers assert that the Isthmian games + were established in honour of Skeiron, and that Theseus + wished to make them an atonement for the murder of his + kinsman; for Skeiron was the son of Kanethus and of + Henioche the daughter of Pittheus. Others say that this + festival was established in honour of Sinis, not of Skeiron. + Be this as it may, Theseus established it, and stipulated + with the Corinthians that visitors from Athens who came + to the games should have a seat of honour in as large a space + as could be covered by a sail of the public ship which + carried them, when stretched out on the ground. This + we are told by Hellanikus and Andron of Halikarnassus.

+
+
+

Besides this, according to Philochorus and other + writers, he sailed with Herakles to the Euxine, took part + in the campaign against the Amazons, and received + Antiope as the reward for his valour; but most historians, + among whom are Pherekydes, Hellanikus, and Herodorus, + say that Theseus made an expedition of his own later than + that of Herakles, and that he took the Amazon captive, + which is a more reasonable story. For no one of his + companions is said to have captured an Amazon; while c 2 + + Bion relates that he caught this one by treachery and + carried her off; for the Amazons, he says, were not averse + to men, and did not avoid Theseus when he touched at + their coast, but even offered him presents. He invited + the bearer of these on board his ship ; and when she had + embarked he set sail. But one, Menekrates, who has + written a history of the town of Nikæa in Bithynia, states + that Theseus spent a long time in that country with + Antiope, and that there were three young Athenians, + brothers, who were his companions in arms, by name + Euneon, Thoas, and Soloeis. Soloeis fell in love with + Antiope, and, without telling his brothers, confided his + passion to one of his comrades. This man laid the mat­ + ter before Antiope, who firmly rejected his pretensions, + but treated him quietly and discreetly, telling Theseus + nothing about it. Soloeis, in despair at his rejection, + leaped into a river and perished; and Theseus then at + length learned the cause of the young man's death. In + his sorrow he remembered and applied to himself an + oracle he had received from Delphi. It had been enjoined + upon him by the Pythia that whenever he should be + struck down with special sorrow in a foreign land, + he should found a city in that place and leave some of + his companions there as its chiefs. In consequence of + this the city which he founded was called Pythopolis, in + honour of the Pythian Apollo, and the neighbouring river + was called Soloeis, after the youth who died in it. He + left there the brothers of Soloeis as the chiefs and law­ + givers of the new city, and together, with them one + Hermus, an Athenian Eupatrid. In consequence of this, + the people of Pythopolis call a certain place in thoir city + the house of Hermes, by a mistaken accentuation transfer­ + ring the honour due to their founder, to their god Hermes.

+
+
+

This was the origin of the war with the + Amazons; and it seems to have been carried on in no + feeble or womanish spirit, for they never could have + encamped in the city nor have fought a battle close to + the Pnyx and the Museum unless they had conquered the + rest of the country, so as to be able to approach the city + safely. It is hard to believe, as Hellanikus relates, that + they crossed the Cimmerian Bosphorus on the ice; but + + that they encamped almost in the city is borne witness + to by the local names, and by the tombs of the fallen. + For a long time both parties held aloof, unwilling to + engage; but at last Theseus, after sacrificing to Phobos + (Fear), attacked them. The battle took place in the + month Boedromion, on the day on which the Athenians + celebrate the feast Boedromia. Kleidemus gives us accurate + details, stating that the left wing of the Amazons stood + at the place now called the Amazoneum, while the right + reached up to the Pnyx, at the place where the gilded + figure of Victory now stands. The Athenians attacked + them on this side, issuing from the Museum, and the + tombs of the fallen are to be seen along the street + which leads to the gate near the shrine of the hero + Chalkodus, which is called the Peiræic gate. On this side + the women forced them back as far as the temple of the + Eumenides, but on the other side those who assailed them + from the temple of Pallas, Ardettus, and the Lyceum, + drove their right wing in confusion back to their camp + with great slaughter. In the fourth month of the war + a peace was brought about by Hippolyte; for this writer + names the wife of Theseus Hippolyte, not Antiope. Some + relate that she was slain fighting by the side of Theseus + by a javelin hurled by one Molpadia, and that the column + which stands beside the temple of Olympian Earth is + sacred to her memory. It is not to be wondered at that + history should be at fault when dealing with such ancient + events as these, for there is another story at variance + with this, to the effect that Antiope caused the wounded + Amazons to be secretly transported to Chalkis, where they + were taken care of, and some of them were buried there, + at what is now called the Amazoneum. However, it is + a proof of the war having ended in a treaty of peace, that + the place near the temple of Theseus where they swore + to observe it, is still called Horcomosium, and that the + sacrifice to the Amazons always has taken place before the + festival of Theseus. The people of Megara also show a + burying-place of the Amazons, as one goes from the + market-place to what they call Rhus, where the lozenge­ + shaped building stands. It is said that some others died + at Chaeronea, and were buried bv the little stream which + + it seems was anciently called Thermodon, but now is + called Hæmon, about which we have treated in the life + of Demosthenes. It would appear that the Amazons + did not even get across Thessaly without trouble, for + graves of them are shown to this day at Skotussa and + Kynoskephalæ.

+
+
+

The above is all that is worthy of mention + about the Amazons ; for, as to the story which the author + of the ‘ Theseid' relates about this attack of the Amazons + being brought about by Antiope to revenge herself upon + Theseus for his marriage with Phædra, and how she and + her Amazons fought, and how Herakles slew them, all this + is clearly fabulous. After the death of Antiope, Theseus + married Phædra, having a son by Antiope named Hip­ + polytus, or Demophoon, according to Pindar. As for his + misfortunes with this wife and son, as the account given + by historians does not differ from that which appears in + the plays of the tragic poets, we must believe them to + have happened as all these writers say.

+
+
+

However, there are certain other legends about + Theseus' marriage which have never appeared on the + stage, which have neither a creditable beginning nor a + prosperous termination: for it is said that he carried off + one Anaxo, a Trcezenian girl, and after slaying Sinis and + Kerkyon he forced their daughters, and that he married + Periboea the mother of Ajax and also Pherebcea and lope + the daughter of Iphikles : and, as has been told already, + it was on account of his love for Ægle the daughter of + Panopeus that he deserted Ariadne, which was a shameful + and discreditable action. And in addition to all this he + is charged with carrying off Helen, which brought war + upon Attica, and exile and destruction on himself; about + which we shall speak presently. But, though many + adventures were undertaken by the heroes of those times, + Herodorus is of opinion that Theseus took no part in any + of them, except with the Lapithae in their fight with the + Centaurs; though other writers say that he went to + Kolchis with Jason and took part with Meleager in the + hunt of the Kalydonian boar.

+

From these legends arises the proverb, “ Not with­ + out Theseus;” also he by himself without any comrades + + performed many glorious deeds, from which the saying + came into vogue, " This is another Herakles."

+

Theseus, together with Adrastus, effected the recovery + of the bodies of those who fell under the walls of the + Cadmea at Thebes, not after conquering the Thebans, as + Euripides puts it in his play, but by a truce and conven­ + tion, according to most writers. Philochorus even states + that this was the first occasion on which a truce was made + for the recovery of those slain in battle. But we have + shown in our ‘ Life of Herakles' that he was the first to + restore the corpses of the slain to the enemy. The tombs + of the rank and file are to be seen at Eleutheræ, but those + of the chiefs at Eleusis, by favour of Theseus to Adrastus. + Euripides's play of the ‘ Suppliants' is contradicted by + that of AEschylus, the ‘ Eleusinians,' in which Theseus is + introduced giving orders for this to be done.

+
+
+

His friendship for Peirithous is said to have + arisen in the following manner : He had a great reputa­ + tion for strength and courage; Peirithous, wishing to + make trial of these, drove his cattle away from the plain of + Marathon, and when he learned that Theseus was pursu­ + ing them, armed, he did not retire, but turned and faced + him. Each man then admiring the beauty and courage of + his opponent, refrained from battle, and first Peirithous + holding out his hand bade Theseus himself assess the + damages of his raid upon the cattle, saying that he himself + would willingly submit to whatever penalty the other + might inflict. Theseus thought no more of their quarrel, + and invited him to become his friend and comrade; and + they ratified their compact of friendship by an oath. + Hereupon, Peirithous, who was about to marry Deidameia, + begged Theseus to come and visit his country and meet + the Lapithæ. He also had invited the Centaurs to the + banquet; and as they in their drunken insolence laid + hands upon the women, the Lapithæ attacked them. + Some of them they slew, and the rest they overcame, and + afterwards, with the assistance of Theseus, banished from + their country. Herodorus, however, says that this is not + how these events took place, but that the war was going + on, and that Theseus went to help the Lapithæ and while + on his way thither first beheld Herakles, whom he made + + a point of visiting at Trachis, where he was resting aftei + his labours and wanderings; and that they met with + many compliments and much good feeling on both sides. + But one would more incline to those writers who tell us + that they often met, and that Herakles was initiated by + Theseus's desire, and was also purified before initiation at + his instance, which ceremony was necessary because of + some reckless action.

+
+
+

Theseus was fifty years old, according to + Hellanikus, when he carried off Helen, who was a mere + child. For this reason some who wish to clear him of + this, the heaviest of all the charges against him, say that + it was not he who carried off Helen, but that Idas and + Lynkeus carried her off and deposited her in his keeping. + Afterwards the Twin Brethren came and demanded her + back, but he would not give her up; or even it is said + that Tyndareus himself handed her over to him, because + he feared that Enarsphorus the son of Hippocoon would + take her by force, she being only a child at the time. + But the most probable story and that which most writers + agree in is the following: The two friends, Theseus and + Peirithous, came to Sparta, seized the maiden, who was + dancing in the temple of Artemis Orthia, and carried her + off. As the pursuers followed no farther than Tegea, + they felt no alarm, but leisurely travelled through + Peloponnesus, and made a compact that whichever of them + should win Helen by lot was to have her to wife, but + must help the other to a marriage. They cast lots on this + understanding, and Theseus won. As the maiden was + not yet ripe for marriage he took her with him to + Aphidnæ, and there placing his mother with her gave + her into the charge of his friend Aphidnus, bidding him + watch over her and keep her presence secret. He himself + in order to repay his obligation to Peirithous went on a + journey with him to Epirus to obtain the daughter of + Aidoneus the king of the Molossians, who called his wife + Persephone, his daughter Kore, and his clog Cerberus. + All the suitors of his daughter were bidden by him to + fight this dog, and the victor was to receive her hand. + However, as he learned that Peirithous and his friend + were come, not as wooers, but as ravishers, he cast them + + into prison. He put an end to Peirithous at once, by + means of his dog, but only guarded Theseus strictly.

+
+
+

Now at this period Mnestheus, the son of + Peteus, who was the son of Omeus, who was the son of + Erechtheus, first of all mankind they say took to the arts + of a demagogue, and to currying favour with the people. + This man formed a league of the nobles, who had long + borne Theseus a grudge for having destroyed the local + jurisdiction and privileges of each of the Eupatrids by + collecting them all together into the capital, where they + were no more than his subjects and slaves; and he also + excited the common people by telling them that although + they were enjoying a fancied freedom they really had been + deprived of their ancestral privileges and sacred rites, and + made to endure the rule of one foreign despot, instead of + that of many good kings of their own blood.

+

While he was thus busily employed, the invasion of + Attica by the sons of Tyndareus greatly assisted his + revolutionary scheme; so that some say that it was he + who invited them to come. At first they abstained from + violence, and confined themselves to asking that their + sister Helen should be given up to them ; but when they + were told by the citizens that she was not in their hands, + and that they knew not where she was, they proceeded to + warlike measures. Akademus, who had by some means + discovered that she was concealed at Aphidnae, now told + them where she was; for which cause he was honoured + by the sons of Tyndareus during his life, and also the + Lacedæmonians, though they often invaded the country + and ravaged it unsparingly, yet never touched the place + called the Akademeia, for Akademus's sake. Dikæarchus + says that Echemus and Marathus, two Arcadians, took + part in that war with the sons of Tyndareus; and that from + the first the place now called Akademeia was then named + Echedemia, and that from the second the township of + Marathon takes its names, because he in accordance with + some oracle voluntarily offered himself as a sacrifice there + in the sight of the whole army.

+

However, the sons of Tyndareus came to Aphidnæ, and + took the place after a battle, in which it is said that + Alykus fell, the son of Skeiron, who then was fighting on + + the side of the Dioskuri. In memory of this man it is + said that the place in the territory of Megara where his + remains lie is called Alykus. But Hereas writes that + Alykus was slain by Theseus at Aphidnæ, and as evidence + he quotes this verse about Alykus, + “ Him whom Theseus slew in the spacious streets of Aphidnæ, + Fighting for fair-haired Helen." + But it is not likely that if Theseus had been there, his + mother and the town of Aphidnæ would have been taken.

+
+
+

After the fall of Aphidnæ, the people of Athens + became terrified, and were persuaded by Mnestheus to admit + the sons of Tyndareus to the city, and to treat them as friends, + because, he said, they were only at war with Theseus, who + had been the first to use violence, and were the saviours + and benefactors of the rest of mankind. These words of + his were confirmed by their behaviour, for, victorious as + they were, they yet demanded nothing except initiation + into the mysteries, as they were, no less than Herakles, + connected with the city. This was permitted them, and + they were adopted by Aphidnus, as Herakles had been by + Pylius. They received divine honours, being addressed as + " Anakes," either because of the cessation of the war, or + from the care they took, when they had such a large army + within the walls of Athens, that no one should be wronged ; + for those who take care of or guard anything are said to + do it " anakos," and perhaps for this reason kings are called + “ Anaktes." Some say that they were called Anakas + because of the appearance of their stars in the heavens + above, for the Attics called " above " “ anekas."

+
+
+

It is said that Æthra, the mother of Theseus, + was carried off as a captive to Lacedæmon, and thence to + Troy with Helen, and Homer supports this view, when he + says that there followed Helen, + " Aithra the daughter of Pittheus and large-eyed Klymene." + Others reject this verse, and the legend about Mounychus, + who is said to have been the bastard son of Laodike, by + Demophoon, and to have been brought up in Troy by + Aithra. But Istrus, in his thirteenth book of his ‘ History + of Attica,' tells quite a different and peculiar story about + + Aithra, that he had heard that Paris was conquered by + Achilles and Patroklus near the river Spercheius, in + Thessaly, and that Hector took the city of Troezen by + storm, and amongst the plunder carried off Aithra, who + had been left there. But this seems impossible.

+
+
+

Now Aidoneus the Molossian king chanced to + be entertaining Herakles, and related to him the story of + Theseus and Peirithous, what they had intended to do, + and how they had been caught in the act and punished. + Herakles was much grieved at hearing how one had + perished ingloriously, and the other was like to perish. + He thought that nothing would be gained by reproaching + the king for his conduct to Peirithous, but he begged for + the life of Theseus, and pointed out that the release of his + friend was a favour which he deserved. Aidoneus agreed, + and Theseus, when set free, returned to Athens, where he + found that his party was not yet overpowered. Whatever + consecrated grounds had been set apart for him by the city, + he dedicated to Herakles, and called Heraklea instead of + Thesea, except four, according to Philochorus. But, as he + at once wished to preside and manage the state as before, + he was met by factious opposition, for he found that those + who had been his enemies before, had now learned not to + fear him, while the common people had become corrupted, + and now required to be specially flattered instead of doing + their duty in silence.

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He endeavoured to establish his government by force, + but was overpowered by faction; and at last, despairing + of success, he secretly sent his children to Eubœa, to + Elephenor, the son of Chalkodous; and he himself, after + solemnly uttering curses on the Athenians at Gargettus,' + where now is the place called Araterion, or the place of + curses, set sail for Skyros, where he was, he imagined, on + friendly terms with the inhabitants, and possessed a + paternal estate in the island. At that time Lykomedes + was king of Skyros; so he proceeded to demand from him + his lands, in order to live there, though some say that he + asked him to assist him against the Athenians. Lyko­ + medes, either in fear of the great reputation of Theseus, + or else to gain the favour of Mnestheus, led him up to + the highest mountain top in the country, on the pretext + + of showing him his estate from thence, and pushed him + over a precipice. Some say that he stumbled and fell + of himself, as he was walking after supper, according + to his custom. As soon as he was dead, no one thought + any more of him, but Mnestheus reigned over the + Athenians, while Theseus's children were brought up as + private citizens by Elephenor, and followed him to + Ilium. When Mnestheus died at Ilium, they returned + home and resumed their rightful sovereignty. In sub­ + sequent times, among many other things which led the + Athenians to honour Theseus as a hero or demi-god, most + remarkable was his appearance at the battle of Marathon, + where his spirit was seen by many, clad in armour, lead­ + ing the charge against the barbarians.

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After the Persian war, in the archonship of + Phædo, the Athenians were told by the Delphian Oracle + to take home the bones of Theseus and keep them with + the greatest care and honour. There was great difficulty + in obtaining them and in discovering his tomb, on account + of the wild and savage habits of the natives of the island. + However, Kimon took the island, as is written in my + history of his Life, and making it a point of honour to dis­ + cover his tomb, he chanced to behold an eagle pecking + with its beak and scratching with its talons at a small + rising ground. Here he dug, imagining that the spot had + been pointed out by a miracle. There was found the coffin + of a man of great stature, and lying beside it a brazen + lance-head and a sword. These relics were brought to + Athens by Kimon, on board of his trireme, and the de­ + lighted Athenians received them with splendid processions + and sacrifices, just as if the hero himself were come to the + city. He is buried in the midst of the city, near where + the Gymnasium now stands, and his tomb is a place of + sanctuary for slaves, and all that are poor and oppressed, + because Theseus, during his life, was the champion and + avenger of the poor, and always kindly hearkened to their + prayers. Their greatest sacrifice in his honour takes + place on the eighth of the month of Pyanepsion, upon + which day he and the youths came back from Crete. But + besides this they hold a service in his honour on the eighth + of all the other months, either because it was on the + + eighth day of Hekatombeion that he first arrived in Athens + from Troezen, as is related by Diodorus the topographer, + or else thinking that number to be especially his own, + because he is said to have been the son of Poseidon, and + Poseidon is honoured on the eighth day of every month. + For the number eight is the first cube of an even number, + and is double the first square, and therefore peculiarly + represents the immovable abiding power of that god whom + we address as " the steadfast," and the “ earth upholder.”

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