Cities
This city is ruled by King Minos
Crete
This god is the father of Theseus
Poseidon
This woman gives Theseus advice that allows him to defeat the Minotaur.
Ariadne
How does Theseus obtain the club he uses to defeat many of the bandits?
Theseus asked if he could hold it, and Periphetes didn't think he was strong enough. Once Theseus had the club, he killed Periphetes.
What is Theseus' unusual upbringing?
His father (King Ageus) wanted a male heir to take over the kingdom of Athens. Ageus was warned to avoid women, and his son would arrive in time. Theseus was conceived in the nearby city of Troezen, where he grew up safely until he could return to Athens.
What's the "fancy" name for the maze that holds the Minotaur?
Labyrinth
King Aegeus had a difficult time conceiving sons, but his brother (Pallas) had this many sons?
50
What fatal mistake did Theseus make when returning home to Athens from Crete?
He didn't change the black flag, and his father thought Theseus was killed by the Minotaur. So, his dad jumped to his death into the sea.
What was Theseus' philosophy about killing people?
He would only kill people who tried to kill him; in addition, he would kill people using the method that they used to kill others.
Troezen
This goddess came to Theseus in a dream and told him to leave Ariadne behind on the isle of Naxos
Athena
Theseus married this woman. She was the younger sister of Ariadne.
Phaedra
One of the bandits whom Theseus killed was Sciron. How does Theseus kill him?
Sciron asked Theseus to wash his feet.
Theseus realized Sciron planned to kick Theseus off the cliff to his pet man-eating Turtle.
Theseus dodged the kick and sent Sciron over the cliff to his death.
What is Theseus' call to adventure?
Theseus' mother (Aethra) told him that he was the son of the king of Athens. She brought him to the hiding spot, where he easily moved the boulder to reveal the hidden sword and sandals.
He then chose to return to Athens by way of the more difficult route, land.
Why did Daedalus make the labyrinth?
First, Daedalus helped Queen Pasiphae mate with a bull by making a contraption. When the Asterion (the Minotaur) was born, it needed to be contained.
What items were placed under the rock for Theseus to retrieve when he was ready to claim his birthright?
Sword (had his father's royal crest symbol) and sandals
How does Theseus break Ariadne's heart?
He leaves her on the island of Naxos and then marries her sister.
How did the Aegean Sea get its name?
According to the myth, King Ageus jumped to his death into water which was then named after him.
Theseus' mortal father (King Aegeus) is the king of this city.
Athens
This sorceress (and granddaughter of Helios) is Theseus' stepmother.
Medea
His mom is the daughter of the king of Troezen. Do you remember her name?
Aeretha
Theseus only killed when attacked.
What is Theseus' special weapon?
From his father, he received a sword and sandals. In addition, he used a bronze-covered club that he took from the first bandit - Periphetes.
How is Theseus able to get himself (and the other tributes) out of the maze?
(Remember, the maze was sealed.)
Ariadne gives him string (that he sneaks in as a belt). He used the string to retrace his steps back to the opening of the maze. Ariadne then ordered the soldiers to remove the blocked opening.
The city of Athens must send "tributes" to Crete to be thrown into the Labyrinth. How often did the sacrifice have to be made?
Every 3 years Athens had to send 14 young tributes to Crete
(Some sources say every 7 years, but our reading indicated 3)
How do Pirithous and Theseus become friends?
Hoping Theseus would challenge him, Pirithous stole cattle from Athens. The two fought, and fought. The two finally decided if they couldn't kill one another, they may as well be friends.
When Theseus and his friend Pirithous travel to Hades to kidnap Persephone, they sit and are frozen.
Who freed Theseus from the Underworld?
Heracles
When Theseus flees Crete and heads toward Athens, he first stops by this place to leave Ariadne.
Naxos
This god is the father of King Minos.
Zeus
Periguine is the daughter of one of the bandits. She ends up falling for Theseus, but they don't stay a couple for long. Who is her father? (If you can't name him, explain his way of killing people.)
The last bandit to be killed by Theseus was Procrustes. (His name meant Stretcher.)
How does Theseus kill him?
Procrustes would tie people to a bed and then make the person "fit the bed". If the person was too short, he'd stretch them to their death. If the person was too tall, he'd chop off bits until the person fit the bed.
Theseus tied Procrustes to the bed and chopped off parts until he fit the bed.
What is the return home for Theseus?
He distracts the beast by using his name (Asterion) and then he breaks off one of the horns. He then uses the horn to stab the creature in his stomach, and he bleeds out.
Who are the parents of the Minotaur?
Pasaphae or (King Minos' wife, or the queen of Crete) and a (white) bull from Poseidon
DAILY DOUBLE
Pirithous and Theseus decide to kidnap the daughters of Zeus. Who does each kidnap?
Theseus steals the young girl Helen (later to be Helen of Troy). His mother returns her.
Pirithous (with the help of Theseus) attempts to steal Persephone.
How does Ariadne's role in the myth compare to other helpers in Greek myths, like Medea for Jason?
Both women fall in love with the hero, and both women betray their families to help the hero.
(Only need one.)
Poseidon
Ariadne's heart was broken when Theseus abandons her on the isle of Naxos. What god does she ultimately marry?
Dionysus
One of the bandits whom Theseus killed was a woman named Phaea. Explain how she terrorized townspeople and what ultimately happened to her.
She died when she confronted Theseus for killing the sow; she charged him with an axe, so he stabbed. her.
(Answer doesn't have to be this specific.)
Another bandit killed by Theseus was King Cercyon. How does Theseus kill him?
Cercyon challenged people to wrestling matches. Theseus picks him up in the air and asks the king to yield. The king threatened to break Theseus's back. Theseus then broke King Cercyon's back.
Name 3 trials Theseus had to face on his way to Athens.
Periphetes - the clubber
Sinis- the pine bender
Phaea and the sow
Sciron - the foot washer
Cercyron - the wrestler
Procrustes- the stretcher
Daedelus and his son Icarus were held captive in the maze until Daedelus created wings for the two to use as an escape mechanism.
Asterion
Theseus kills his son, Hippolytus, who was conceived with the Queen of the Amazons. Why does he kill him?
When Hippolytus grew up, he and Phaedra (Theseus' ex) fell in love. Theseus was enraged and killed him.
It was the killing of his own son that made the Athenian people exile him.
How does Theseus die?
Once Theseus was kicked out of Athens, he roamed around Greece and eventually landed in the kingdom of King Lycomedes.
They brought him to a cliff and tossed him to his death.