class civ foundation stories

Cards (21)

  • The Naming of Athens:
    • King Cecrops founded a city in Attica and needed a name
    • Athena and Poseidon both came to lay their patronage on the city
    • Poseidon struck the Acropolis with a trident and offered salt spring water
    • Athena planted an olive tree
    • Zeus and Cecrops judged, Athena's gift was deemed more useful, hence the name 'Athens'
  • The Erechtheion:
    • Temple on the Acropolis dedicated to Athena, Poseidon, and legendary King of Athens (Erechtheus)
    • Contains a well where Poseidon struck with his trident, a small garden with the olive tree Athena planted, and tombs of King Cecrops and Erechtheus
  • The Adventures of Theseus:
    • Theseus, King of Athens, united Attica and instituted great reforms
  • Theseus' Birth:
    • Aegeus, King of Athens, consulted an oracle for an heir
    • Pittheus interpreted the riddle and helped Aegeus conceive a son with his daughter Aethra, Theseus
    • Theseus had both godly and mortal characteristics due to Poseidon's involvement
    • Theseus proved his worthiness by retrieving Aegeus' sandals and sword from under a rock
  • Theseus' Labours:
    • Theseus completed various labours including defeating bandits, a fierce pig, and a bull from Crete
    • He also killed the Minotaur with the help of Minos' daughter Ariadne
  • Theseus as King of Athens:
    • Theseus united conflicting towns of Attica under Athens' allegiance
    • Introduced democracy and initiated the Panathenaic Games to unite the religions of the area
  • The Founding of the Roman Race:
    • Venus fell in love with Anchises in Troy and bore Aeneas
    • Aeneas fled Troy with the household Gods and lost his wife, later marrying Lavina in Italy
    • Aeneas' descendants, including Romulus and Remus, founded Rome
  • The Founding of Rome:
    • Romulus and Remus, raised by a she-wolf, overthrew Amilius and built Rome
    • Romulus killed Remus and named the city 'Rome'
    • Romans and Sabine tribe fought until the women intervened and peace was made
  • Plutarch Parallel Lives - Theseus and Romulus:
    • Plutarch compares Theseus and Romulus in terms of their deeds, leadership, misfortunes, achievements, relationships with family and women
    • Plutarch views Theseus as more admirable for his deeds, leadership, and relationships
  • what things did theseus do as king of athens?
    united the conflicting towns of attica, introduced democracy and the panathenaic games
  • what does the erechtheion contain?
    a well, garden and tombs of king cecrops and erechtheus
  • Aegeus
    King of Athens
  • Pittheus
    King of Troezen
  • Aegeus' conception of Theseus
    1. Aegeus consulted oracle
    2. Pittheus interpreted riddle
    3. Pittheus got Aegeus drunk
    4. Aegeus slept with Pittheus' daughter Aethra
  • Aethra received a message in her dream to go to the island of Sphairia where Poseidon emerged to sleep with her, causing Theseus to have both godly and mortal characteristics
  • Aegeus' plan for Theseus
    1. Aegeus left sandals and sword under a rock
    2. Told Aethra Theseus must retrieve them to prove he is worthy heir
    3. Theseus easily retrieved the items
  • Theseus wanted to equal Heracles' achievements

    Theseus chose the dangerous route to Athens
  • Theseus' Labours
    1. Perphetes
    2. Sinis
    3. Crommyonian Sow
    4. Sciron
    5. Cercyon
    6. Procrustes
    7. Bull of Marathon
    8. The Minotaur
  • Ariadne
    Minos' daughter who helped Theseus kill the Minotaur
  • Possible reasons as to why Theseus left Ariadne on the island of Naxos
    • Ariadne was pregnant with Theseus' son
    • Theseus fell in love with another woman
    • Athena told Theseus in a dream that Dionysus picked Ariadne as his bride
  • When sailing back to Athens, Theseus forgot to change the sail from black to white, causing King Aegeus to throw himself off a cliff and die