Theseus subdues the Bull of Marathon. Silver kylix by an unknown artist, ca. 445-440 BCE. Now in the Vassil Bojkov collection, Sofia, Bulgaria. Photo credit: Gorgonchica/Wikimedia Commons.
Theseus arrives in Athens and is recognized by his parents Aegeus and Aethra, while Poseidon looks on. Athenian red-figure amphora, attributed to the Oinanthe Painter; ca. 470 BCE. Now in the British Museum. Photo credit: ArchaiOptix/Wikimedia Commons.
Ismene and Antigone Plead with Theseus, Nicolai Abildgaard, 1790s
Embarking on a fun new writing project: an epic poem about the exploits of Theseus. I've read more epic poetry than any sane individual should (including the Argonautica in Greek and the Aeneid, Pharsalia, and Thebaid in Latin), and I figured the time had come to try my hand at writing it.
Theseus and Aethra, Laurent de La Hyre, between 1635 and 1640
Theseus’ abduction of Helen of Troy: Theseus, assisted by his best friend Pirithous and Helen’s sister Phoebe, loads Helen into a chariot. Attic red-figure stamnos by the painter Polygnotus; ca. 430-420 BCE. Now in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
Theseus and the Minotaur, aka The Labyrinth (detail from The Cretan Legend in Four Compositions), Maestro di Tavarnelle, ca. 1500-1525
The hero Theseus, wearing a chlamys (short cloak) and holding a spear. Attic red-figure amphora, artist unknown; ca. 470 BCE. Now in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Photo credit: Carole Raddato.
The Battle of the Centaurs and the Lapiths, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1853
On his way from Sicyon to Athens to claim his inheritance, the hero Theseus defeats the bandit Sciron, who would force passersby to kneel and wash his feet, then kick them off a cliff into the sea. Tondo of an Attic red-figure kylix, attr. to the potter-painter Douris; ca. 480 BCE. Found at Vulci; now in the Antikensammlung Berlin. Photo credit: Sailko/Wikimedia Commons.
Theseus defeats the Minotaur. Side A of an Attic red-figure stamnos, attributed to the Altamura Painter; ca. 460 BCE. Now in the Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich.
Theseus wrestles Cercyon, King of Eleusis, who would challenge passersby to a wrestling match and then kill them when they lost. From the “Aison Cup,” an Attic red-figure kylix depicting Theseus’ six labors, signed by the painter Aison; ca. 430 BCE. Now in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid. Photo credit: Luis Garcia/Wikimedia Commons.
Aethra Showing Her Son Theseus the Place Where His Father Had Hidden His Arms, Nicolas-Guy Brenet, 1768
Theseus Recovers His Father’s Sword, Nicolas Poussin and Jean Lemaire, ca. 1638
Theseus attacks the Minotaur. Detail from an Attic black-figure amphora, attributed to the Castellani Painter; ca. 575-550 BCE. Now in the Louvre.
Theseus is greeted as liberator after killing the Minotaur. Fresco in the Fourth Style from the basilica at Herculaneum; now in the National Archaeological Museum, Naples.