#333 Tales of Great Heroes 14

Tales of Great Heroes 14 Theseus was son of Aegeus, King of Athens, and Aethra, daughter of King Pittheus, and was born in Troezen. Aegeus left a big rock and a sword and a pair of shoes under it. Aegeus said to Aethra if the baby was a boy then wait till he could lift the rock, bid him to come to Athens. On his way to Athens, Theseus met Periphetes the Clubman. Theseus was the only man who could take the club out of Periphetes and killed the great man. Theseus killed a wild pig. Theseus met Sciron, who asked for ransom if one wanted to pass through his mountain trail. Theseus grabbed Sciron by the foot and threw him over shoulder into the sea under. Theseus met Procrustes the magic bed man, who killed all the passengers that was overnight at his tower. Theseus threw Procrustes onto his own bed and cut off his head and his feet like Procrustes had done to all his guests. Theseus arrived at Athens. Theseus's father King Aegeus married a witch who promised to give Aegeus many sons to protect A from his 50 nephews. The witch queen hated Theseus so she warned Aegeus not to believe what Theseus said about his brave adventures. Aegeus promised Theseus his land only if he brought the Cretan bull. Theseus succeeded and at the grand meal Aegeus recognized Theseus's sword and knocked Theseus's poison cup. The witch-wife fled. Aegeus's brother Pallas attacked Athens and was defeated by Theseus. King Mino of Crete came to ask for 7 young men and 7 young girls to feed the Minotaur, that lived in a labyrinth under Crete. This happened every year to pay for the death of Minos's son at Marathon, killed by the bull. Theseus volunteered for the sacrifice and vowed to kill Minotaur. Aegeus told Theseus to put up white sails as he conquered the Minotaur, if not, it meant Theseus was dead. Theseus reached Crete and met princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos. Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of wool for Theseus to go into the labyrinth and get out. Minotaur charged at Theseus incessantly. Theseus grabbed its horns and pushed its head back until its huge neck broke and lay dead. Upon returning to Athens, Theseus stopped to rest on island of Naxos. Dionysus saw Ariadne and fell in love with her too. Dionysus make her fall asleep so that when she woke, she forgot all about Theseus and married Dionysus happily. Theseus left Naxos full of sorrow so that when he sailed into Athens he forgot to put up white sails. King Aegeus saw black sails of the ship and he threw himself into the sea. The place where King Aegeus flung himself was called the Aegean Sea. King Minos searched for Daedalus who made the labyrinth. Daedalus made wings out of feathers for him and his son Icarus. Together they flew away from Crete to escape from King Minos. Icarus forgot father's warning and flew too high and the wax of the wings melt and dropped to the sea. Daedalus flew on to Italy and the princess of Sicily fell in love with him and killed King Minos for Daedalus. Theseus became king of Athens and married another daughter of King Minos Phaedra. Many years passed. A messenger came and asked Theseus to join the Golden Fleece quest. The fleece came from the ram that had carried Phrixus and Helle over the sea from Greece. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn