Legendary Passages #0118, Philostratus the Elder, Imagines Book 2, Image 2, Centaurs & Hippolytus. Previously, Theseus fought a war against the centaurs, and cursed his son Hippolytus to an early death. In this passage, we hear descriptions of the education of Achilles by the centaur Chiron, female centaurs and their foals, and the tragic fate of H…

Legendary Passages #0117, Plutarch's Life of Theseus, Section [XXVI.], Antiope & Pirithous. Previously, Theseus was crowned king of Athens after returning from the labyrinth without Ariadne. In this passage he loved and lost the amazon princess known as Antiope; and befriended Pirithous, whom he would follow into the depths of Hades itself. Antiope…

Legendary Passages #0116, Pseudo-Apollodorus, The Library Epitome [E.1.5], Epitome of Theseus. Previously, Theseus discovered his origins and journeyed to Athens. In this passage, he expelled Medea, fought the Minotaur, and had many adventures as King, most ending in disaster. After sacrificing the Marathonian Bull, Theseus was recognized by his fa…

Legendary Passages #0115, Plutarch's Life of Theseus, Section [XXII.], The Ship of Theseus. Previously, Theseus returned from the Labyrinth, only to find his father Aegeus had jumped off the Sounion Cliffs, thinking him dead. In this passage, the people of Athens welcome the reign of their new king and his many innovations. Not only had Theseus see…

Legendary Passages #0114, Philostratus the Elder, Imagines Book 1, Image 14, Pasiphae & Semele. Previously, Theseus abandoned Ariadne on Naxos, where she was rescued by the god Dionysus. In this passage there are descriptions of three paintings: Semele, mother of Dionysus; Ariadne, wife of Dionysus; and Pasiphae, mother of Ariadne and the Minotaur.…

Legendary Passages #0113, The Poems of Catullus, Part II of Poem [64], Ariadne's Curse. Previously, Catullus described a couch covered with images of Theseus and Ariadne. Here the passage continues with her lamentations, her curse, and her rescue, of sorts. Ariadne had hoped for marriage, would have endured slavery, but being left to die alone was …

Legendary Passages #0112, The Poems of Catullus, Part I of Poem [64], Of the Argonauts & Ariadne. Previously, Princess Ariadne was abandoned by Theseus on the island of Naxos. In this passage we revisit how she came to be stranded there. Now the structure of this poem is quite odd. It begins with the voyage of the Argonauts, where Prince Peleus fel…

Legendary Passages #0111, Ovid's Heroides, Epistle [X.], Ariadne's Letter. Previously, with Ariadne's help Prince Theseus defeated the Minotaur and escaped the Labyrinth. In this passage Ariadne awakens alone on the Island of Naxos, Theseus having abandoned her and sailed away in the night. Ariadne's Letter, a Legendary Passage from, Grant Showerma…

Legendary Passages #0110, Plutarch's Life of Theseus, Section [XVII.], The Black Sail. Previously, the time had come for the third tribute of Athenian youths to be sent to Crete, with no hope of return. In this passage are many different versions of their adventures, not one ending happily ever after. First of all, Theseus promised his father that …

Legendary Passages #0109, Bacchylides' Odes, [XVII.], The Athenian Youths. Previously, Theseus had many adventures on his way to Athens before volunteering to be sent to the Minotaur's Labyrinth. This passage recounts some of those adventures as well as a few others. Ode 17 begins with the voyage of the seven boys and seven girls to Crete. King Min…

Legendary Passages #0108, Pausanias' Description of Greece, Book [1.26.4], Marathonian Bull. Previously, Theseus found his father's sword and sandals, killed the Marathonian Bull, and volunteered for the Tribute of Minos. In this passage we hear more of those stories, as well as exploring the Acropolis of Athens. After the Erectheum and the image o…

Legendary Passages #0107, Plutarch's Life of Theseus, Section [XIII.], Tribute. Previously, after many labors Theseus arrived at Athens, drove off the witch Medea, and was recognized by his father as the crown prince. In this passage, Theseus contends with the sons of Pallas, the Marathonian Bull, and King Minos come again to collect his tribute. L…

Legendary Passages #0106, Pausanias' Description of Greece, Book [2.2.3], The Children of Corinth. Previously, Medea's children were killed after they brought poisoned gifts for their father's bride Glauce. In this passage we hear many myths about them and their mother before she flees to Athens. But first, a tour of Corinth. Lechaeum and Cenchreae…

Legendary Passages #0105, Pausanias' Description of Greece, Book [1.44.6], The Corinthian Isthmus. Previously, Theseus traveled the road from Troezen to Athens around the Saronic Gulf. In this passage, we explore in the opposite direction, from the Scironian Road, Cromyon, and then to the Isthmus. First is the white Megarean mussel stones along the…

Legendary Passages #0104, Plutarch's Life of Theseus, Section [VI.], Labors of Theseus. Previously, Theseus learned that he was the son of Aegeus, king of Athens. In this passage, Theseus makes his way to Athens to be recognized as his father's heir. Theseus retrieved his father's sword and sandals from under a boulder, but then refused to sail to …

Legendary Passages #0103, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus, Life of Theseus [I. - VI.] The Parallel Lives. This passage begins Plutarch's comparison between the Life of Theseus and the Life of Romulus, founder of Rome. There are a few notable parallels, including questionable or divine parentage, strength and cunning, foundation of empires, terrible rela…

Legendary Passages #0102, Pseudo-Apollodorus, The Library Book 3 [3.15.2], Kings of Athens. This passage recounts the genealogy and history of Theseus, his father Aegeus, his father Pandion the second, his father Cecrops, his father Erectheus, and his father Pandion the first. Now, Pandion the first had many children after Erectheus, including a so…

Legendary Passages #0101, Publius Ovidius Naso, Metamorphoses Book 7 [322], Medea & Aegeus. Previously, Medea convinced the daughters of Pelias to slay their father. In this passage, they do just that, and Medea flies from Iolcus to Corinth to Athens, sowing chaos in her wake. After slaying Pelias, Medea and her dragons sail over Pelion, Orthrys, P…

Legendary Passages #0100, Diodorus Siculus, Library of History [4.56.3], The Birth of Theseus. The next 25 episodes cover the early adventures of Theseus, son of Aegeus. In this passage, he journeys to Athens to be recognized by his father. But first, this passage continues from last episode with an alternate route of the Argonauts around the Iberi…

Legendary Passages #0099 -XXV ARGO- The End of the Argo, from Diodorus' Library of History. Previously, Medea tricked the daughters of Pelias into killing their own father. In this passage, the Argonauts take over Iolcus, and Jason hands the kingdom over to Acastus, the king's son. Jason and Medea live happily in Corinth, but Jason stets aside his …

Legendary Passages #0098 -XXIV ARGO- Medea & The Argo, from The Library of Apollodorus. Previously, the Argonauts had many adventures on their quest to obtain the Golden Fleece. In this passage, Medea's own story comes to the forefront. Not only does she help Jason win the fleece, but slays her own brother to aid in their escape. After being purifi…

Legendary Passages #0097 -XXIII ARGO- Fables of the Argo, from the Fables of Hyginus. Previously, the Argonauts launched from Iolcus, getting sidetracked by the women of Lemnos. In this passage they sail all the way to Colchis, and leave with Medea, who is eventually betrayed, exiled, and returns home. http://www.theoi.com/Text/HyginusFabulae1.html…

Legendary Passages #0096 -XXII ARGO- The Chariot (Part 7) of Euripides' Medea. Previously, Medea slew both the King and Jason's bride. In this passage, she completes her revenge, and escapes to Athens on a flying chariot. http://sacred-texts.com/cla/eurip/medea.htm The Chariot (Part 7), a Legendary Passage, from Euripides' Medea, trans. by E. P. Co…

Legendary Passages #0095 -XXI ARGO- The Messenger (Part 6) of Euripides' Medea. Previously, Medea sent her children with a poisoned crown & robes to the daughter of Creon. In this passage, she debates just how far to take her vengeance, when a messenger arrives and reveals the ill fates of Creon and his daughter. http://sacred-texts.com/cla/eurip/m…

Legendary Passages #0094 -XX ARGO- The Children (Part 5) of Euripides' Medea. Previously, Medea hatched a plan of vengeance upon her husband Jason, his new bride, and their children. In this passage, Medea pretends to make peace, and so that her children may escape banishment, prepares a golden crown and robes for Jason's new bride. http://sacred-t…