THE ADVENTURES OF THESEUS
_III. Theseus Kills the Minotaur_
The ship reached Crete and Minos ordered the weeping youths and
maidens to be thrown into the den of the Minotaur and Theseus with
them. By a lucky chance Ariadne, the daughter of the king, saw Theseus
and was moved with pity and a wish to save him. She slyly gave him a
ball of yarn and told him to fasten one end of it to the inside
entrance to the Labyrinth and then wind it off as he walked along that
he might find his way back again.
Theseus took the ball and went with his companions into the Labyrinth.
He fastened one end of the thread firmly to the inside of the
entrance, and as he walked along the thread caught and held on to the
bushes. They could hear the bellowing of the Minotaur as they
approached the cave, and the companions of Theseus hid themselves in
the bushes, trembling with fright. But Theseus approached fearlessly,
and rushing upon the Minotaur, thrust his sword through him and the
monster fell dead.
The youths and maidens came out from their hiding-places, and
surrounding Theseus, kissed his hands and called him their preserver.
Theseus, guided by the thread which Ariadne had given him, led his
companions safely to the entrance of the Labyrinth. And when they were
free from its entanglements, Theseus gratefully raised up his hands to
heaven and offered a prayer of thanks to the gods for their escape.
Theseus and the companions whom he had saved reached the sea-shore
unhindered, hurried their vessel into the water, unfurled the sail,
and rowed with all their might in order to escape as quickly as
possible from Crete and return to their own beloved country. The wind
was favorable and the vessel cut through the sea like a swan. They
passed through the midst of the islands of the sea and first landed at
Delos, the home of the god, Apollo. This beautiful land was like a
floating star and was said to be surrounded by a wall of pure gold.
Theseus offered a sacrifice to Apollo and danced with the youths and
maidens a dance in which they represented the winding passages of the
Labyrinth. But in their great joy neither he nor the pilot thought of
unfurling the white sail. Old Ægeus came every day to the sea-shore to
watch for the return of the ship. There he sat on a high cliff and
gazed over the wide waters; he hoped to see the boat coming with the
white sail hoisted, and was in great agony of mind for fear he should
see it coming with the black sail up.
At last he espied, one day, a ship coming from afar. The nearer it
came the greater grew the old king's anxiety. Soon he recognized the
boat. It was the one which had borne away his beloved Theseus. But
alas! the ship still carried the black sail, the sign of sorrow.
"My son is dead!" exclaimed the unhappy king. "My only son is dead! My
beloved Theseus!"
The grief of Ægeus was beyond bounds and his reason left him. In
despair he threw himself from the cliff into the sea and was drowned,
and from that time all that water has been called the Ægean Sea.
The ship entered the port near Athens and Theseus brought the
thanksgiving offerings which he had promised the gods when he left the
port, and he sent a herald into the city to announce their safe
return.
The Athenians, as soon as they learned that Theseus and the seven
youths and seven maidens had returned safely, hastened to the palace,
men, women, and children, and received him with joy and honors. But
Theseus' pleasure changed to grief when he learned that his father had
died on account of his great love for his son.
The Athenians led him forth, however, amidst the greatest
demonstrations of enthusiasm and proclaimed him their king. Thus
Theseus became King of Athens not only because he was of royal descent
but because he was manly and loved his country better than himself.
The court of Theseus became celebrated for its splendor and he ruled
with prudence. The villages of the plain of Attica had formerly been
at war with each other. Now they united under one government, with
Athens as the chief city. Theseus founded festivals and encouraged
education, and was in every way a good and wise leader.
Long after his death there was a beautiful temple erected in his
honor, and it stands in Athens to this day. The stories of his great
deeds are carved in its stones, which are much worn by time. There you
can see the hero slaying Prokrustes, Skiron, the Minotaur, and
Periphetes. And you can see the capture of the wild Bull of Marathon.
There, too, are the stories of Herakles, in stone, as he slew the lion
and hydra and performed other valiant deeds.
We speak of these heroes as if they had once lived in the flesh and
died like mortals, but no one can tell whether or not they are purely
Heroes of the Myth.